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NI welfare reform: Bill passes through House of Commons NI welfare reform: Bill passes through House of Commons
(34 minutes later)
Welfare reform legislation for Northern Ireland agreed in last week's political deal at Stormont has been pushed through the House of Commons. MPs have passed a bill giving the government the power to introduce its UK-wide welfare reforms in Northern Ireland.
The bill will go before the House of Lords on Tuesday before becoming law. The bill was given accelerated passage through the House of Commons on Monday night despite objections from Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Ulster Unionist MPs.
The Northern Ireland Assembly voted in favour of a motion on Wednesday to allow MPs to implement changes to the welfare system in Northern Ireland. It is due to complete its consideration in the House of Lords on Tuesday.
The motion was passed with 70 MLAs voting in favour, while 22 members voted opposed it. MLAs voted last week to hand powers over the welfare system to Westminster.
It followed a new agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, Stormont's two largest parties, and the British and Irish governments. That followed a new agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, Stormont's two largest parties, and the British and Irish governments.
The deal included a four-year package to soften the blow of the welfare reform and tax credits cuts, with a value of £585m.The deal included a four-year package to soften the blow of the welfare reform and tax credits cuts, with a value of £585m.
Some other parties criticised the move to hand welfare powers back to Westminster. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told the House of Commons the lack of resolution on welfare reforms had been "undermining the political process in Northern Ireland".
She said the new benefits system in Northern Ireland, with top-ups funded by Northern Ireland's ruling executive Stormont, would be the most generous in the UK.
Although the Labour Party opposes many of the Conservative Party's welfare policies, Vernon Coaker, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, said it would not vote against the bill.
Attempts by the SDLP to amend the bill were rejected.