§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cause of the urgency which led him to decide that it was inexpedient to refer the proposals contained in the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Amendment Regulations 1983 to the Social Security Advisory Committee.
§ Dr. BoysonAs I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 4 November—[Vol. 47, c.485–86]—the effect of the regulations was to restore the legal position to what it had always, prior to a recent decision of the social security commissioners, been believed to be, that single payments of supplementary benefit should not be payable for medical or similar requirements. To have left the law unamended would have meant changing the policy intended by successive Governments and the former supplementary benefits commission. It was necessary to make the regulations urgently in order to keep to a minimum the number of claims which would need to be determined in accordance with the commissioners' decision and any uncertainty which would have resulted.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will withdraw the Supplementary 538W Benefit (Single Payments) Amendment Regulations 1983 until they have been considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee.
§ Dr. BoysonNo.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings are expected to accrue in a year as a result of the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Amendment Regulations 1983
§ Dr. BoysonThe regulations produce no savings as such, although an additional cost, the amount of which cannot be estimated, would have been likely to be incurred if they had not been made.