§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services further to his answer of 2 April, Official Report, columns 415–6, why the drafts of new supplementary benefit regulations, including the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) (Amendment) Regulations, were not placed in the Vote Office at the time they were sent to the Social Security Advisory Committee; and whether, in the light of this, he will now extend the period of consultation by an additional three weeks.
§ Dr. BoysonAs a courtesy to the House, copies of draft regulations are usually placed in the Vote Office at the time they are referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee. Owing to an oversight, for which I apologise, this was not done in the case of the supplementary benefit amendment regulations referred to the committee on 16 April 1984. Proposals, to which the draft regulations give effect, had previously been referred to the committee, on 30 March 1984, and copies of those proposals were placed in the Vote Office on 2 April. Copies of the draft regulations have now also been placed in the Vote Office. The House will have the opportunity of considering the regulations when they are laid before the House in their final form later in the Session together with the committee's report on them and my right hon. Friend's response. I see no need to ask the Social Security Advisory Committee to extend the public consultation period, which is in any event at its discretion.