§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the identification of an element equal to a person's rates payment within income support; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorWe have received a number of representations on the effect on income support recipients of the proposal that people should pay a proportion of their general rates. Final decisions about the level of income support have not yet been taken.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is in a position to make a statement about the nature of rate assessment forms for people on income support.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with local authority associations concerning the calculation of net income of people on income support; to what effect; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorThe housing benefit standing committee, which consists of representatives of the local authority associations and officials of the Department meets regularly. The committee commissioned a sub-group of its members to examine approaches to the calculation of net income for people receiving housing benefit under the reformed scheme. The sub-group met five times and produced a report setting out options for the treatment of net income. Draft regulations for the reformed scheme taking into account the majority preference for an actual net income approach, were issued to the local authority associations for formal consultation at the beginning of the year. The associations' responses are being considered at present.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received from local authorities seeking 100 per cent, assistance with rates for those who will receive income support, where the authorities meet spending targets set by the Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorI am not aware of any representations specifically making this point. People whose local authorities keep spending down will benefit from having 81W to make a lower contribution towards rates. An arrangement such as that set out in my hon. Friend's question would not be in keeping with our objectives of greater accountability of local authorities to their electorates, equity between people on and off income support or living in different parts of the country, and operational simplicity.