HC Deb 13 January 1986 vol 89 cc503-4W
Dr. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions his Department's offices have had to close owing to the failure of their heating systems; and what steps are taken in these circumstances regarding provision of services, particularly in relation to holiday periods.

Mr. Major

Information on the breakdown of office heating systems is not collected as a matter of routine. I am, however, aware that following the Christmas holiday period there were heating failures in a number of our local offices. In some cases it was necessary, because of the extreme cold, for management to close the office until urgent repairs to the heating system could be completed. In most cases the office was closed for a day or less and in no case did it take more than two days for the repairs to be completed.

Mr. Major

Yes. We are proposing to amend the Housing Benefits Regulations to ensure that the treatment of convenanted payments for housing benefit purposes is consistent with the intended supplementary benefit approach. Draft regulations have now been referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations for their views.