§ 11. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the members of the new Social Security Advisory Committee will be announced.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mrs. Lynda Chalker)My right hon. Friend will announce appointments to the committee well before it is due to start work at the end of November.
§ Mr. BennettBecause of the savage cuts being made in real terms in many benefits, is it not important that this vital committee be appointed as soon as possible so that it can have an effective voice in preventing people's benefits from being cut in that way?
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe are anxious to set up the committee as soon as it is reasonable to do so.
§ Mr. OrmeRegulations have been submitted to the House in respect of the Social Security Act. Does the Minister recall that in Committee we asked that the new commission should consider the regulations? Is that still the Government's intention?
§ Mrs. ChalkerAs I explained in Committee, the commission will consider the regulations. However, to bring benefits into effect in November this year they will have to be considered by the House before the commission can consider them. We have agreed that it can consider them in retrospect.