Houses of Lords backs government plans for new disability payments

The government has won a key vote in the House of Lords, defeating attempts to delay the introduction of new disability payments. It is now expected to overturn in the Commons three amendments to the bill passed in the Lords last week, and will seek to have the bill certified as a “money bill” by the Commons speaker, which would prevent the Lords from imposing any further delays.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, who gained fame as a successful disabled athlete, sought to postpone the introduction of a new benefit, personal independent payment (PIP), which will replace the existing disability living allowance. Her amendment would have introduced a pilot scheme to test the working of PIP before full introduction. She said that this was necessary because of uncertainty about who would qualify for the new benefit and who would not.

Lord …