Dear friends,

 

Welfare Reform Bill – House of Lords Tues 9 June, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25 June

 

We are writing to update you about the Welfare Reform Bill.  In recent weeks, people have become incensed that MPs are helping themselves to public funds with one hand, while with the other, squeezing those of us with least -- in the greatest need of public funds. 

 

The House of Lords is about to discuss amendments addressing some of the worst aspects of the Bill at Grand Committee stage, in the Moses Room of the Lords, starting on Tuesday 9 June.

 

Here is a Model Letter which you can send to any members of the House of Lords who you know about, and think might be sympathetic.  And you can also send this letter, maybe adapted to your local situation, to the media, blogs, etc., including to your local press. 

 

We have also prepared a briefing on amendments to the Bill by Legal Action for Women, Single Mothers’ Self-Defence and WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities).

 

You can watch the Committee live online on computer via the Parliament website – the Committee session starts at 3.30pm.  For more about the meeting we held, to sign Women’s Open Letter and to read recent letters in the press, see www.globalwomenstrike.net

 

 

Kim Sparrow

Single Mothers’ Self-Defence

 

_____________

 

Model letter on the Welfare Reform Bill

 

 

Dear

 

I am very worried about the Welfare Reform Bill.  In particular, I am concerned that it would (ADD ANY OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS AND YOUR OWN VIEWS OR EXPERIENCES)

 

  • Bring in “work for your benefits”, i.e. for £1.73 an hour.  This is a shocking attack on the minimum wage which would drive all wages down, but first of all that of those most dependent on the minimum wage: women.  Single mothers, people with disabilities, people over 60, people of colour, and others whom employers discriminate against, will be disproportionately affected. 

 

  • Force mothers of young children into “work-related activity” or to “progress towards work” as a condition of receiving benefit, and compel both unemployed parents of young children to be available for work.  This disregards children’s need for caring work and their parents’ right to choose what is best for their children and themselves. 

 

  • Treat carers as job seekers.  Carers’ unwaged work saves the government £87bn a year.  They are assured that rules will be softened for them, but no such assurance is written into the Bill.  Forcing carers into work will have a wide impact on those they care for: children, people with disabilities, older people and people with an addiction to drink or drugs. 

 

  • Force traumatised women escaping domestic violence to look for a job or face sanctions. 

 

·          Abolish Income Support.  The Welfare Reform Bill treats mothers as “workless”, ignoring their vital caring work.  Income Support is a crucial entitlement ensuring the basic human right to survive -- for mothers, other carers who cannot get Carers’ Allowance, those they care for, victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable people, young and old.

 

  • Bring in compulsory joint birth registration, which grants violent ex-partners greater rights over the child and unwanted involvement with the mother.  30% of women have suffered domestic violence. Mothers who refuse to name the father if “good cause” is not accepted could be fined, or even imprisoned for seven years for deliberately giving false information.  These powers are worse than the notorious Child Support Act which impoverished and terrorised many single mother families until it was finally abolished. 

 

I respectfully ask that you support amendments which deal with these important issues, in the Grand Committee stage of the Bill starting on Tuesday 9 June.

 

Sincerely,