§ Sir Peter Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the treatment of home income plans for the purpose of calculating housing benefit entitlement.
§ Mr. MajorThe current guidance to local authorities, consolidated in a manual issued last summer, reflects the legal advice we have received on how home income plans should be treated when assessing entitlement to housing benefit. We have received a number of representations suggesting an alternative approach, which would require an amendment to the Housing Benefits Regulations, and are considering the position. We expect to be able to announce the outcome in the near future.