TIME-LIMITING EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

Early day motion 1755, tabled 27 April 2011 by Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 38 members.

That this House notes with extreme concern the provisions for time-limiting contribution-related employment and support allowance (ESA) to 12 months included in the Welfare Reform Bill; recognises that ESA claimants will be means-tested for income-related ESA when this period has elapsed, and that an ESA claimant with a spouse or partner working over 24 hours a week will not then be eligible for the benefit; believes that time-limiting ESA isa serious disincentive to work for the partners and carers of ESA claimants, leading to a situation where unemployment is more financially sustainable than work; further believes that time-limiting ESA punishes working families where one member claims ESA; and urges the Government to remove time-limiting ofESA from the bill prior to its Third Reading.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Liberal Democrat 3, DUP 1, Green 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.