HC Deb 22 March 1995 vol 257 cc438-9
Mr. Roger Evans

I beg to move amendment No. 11, in page 10, line 22, at end insert— '(aa) where the claimant and A are a married or unmarried couple, any portion of the applicable amount which is included in respect of them shall be reduced to one half for the period for which this subsection applies to the claimant.'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Morris)

With this, it will be convenient to discuss also Government amendments Nos. 12, 13, 39 and 40.

Mr. Evans

I understand that the Opposition are content for me to make only a short speech on amendment No. 11. The amendments are drafting and technical, but I should perhaps refer the House to amendment No. 12, where the first line includes the word "is", which is clearly a typographical error, and should be deleted. The amendment should read Where a reduction under subsection (2)(aa) would not produce a sum which is a multiple of 5p".

Mr. Bradley

I confirm that the Opposition are content with the amendments, but I add the caveat that we are not content with the clauses to which the amendments relate. We opposed them in Committee, and we continue to oppose them. I do not want the fact that we are not pressing the amendment to a vote tonight to be misconstrued.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 12, in page 10, line 40, at end insert— '() Where a reduction under subsection (2)(aa) would not produce a sum which is a multiple of 5p, the reduction shall be to the nearest lower sum which is such a multiple.'.

No. 13, in page 10, line 48, at end insert— '(5) Subsections (6) to (8) apply where an order made under section 150 of the Administration Act (annual up-rating of benefits) has the effect of increasing the sum prescribed in regulations made under section 4(5) as the personal allowance for a single person aged not less than 25 ("the personal allowance"). (6) For the sum prescribed in regulations made under subsection (2)(c) there shall be substituted, from the time when the order comes into force, a sum arrived at by increasing the prescribed sum by the percentage by which the personal allowance has been increased by the order. (7) If the sum arrived at under subsection (6) is not a multiple of 50p—

  1. (a) any remainder of 25p or less shall be disregarded;
  2. (b) any remainder of more than 25p shall be rounded up to the nearest 50p.

(8) The order shall state the sum substituted for the sum prescribed in regulations made under subsection (2)(c). (9) Nothing in subsection (6) prevents the making of further regulations under subsection (2)(c) varying the prescribed sum.'.—[Mr. Roger Evans.]

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