§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when water charges were excluded from the scope of housing benefit; and why.
§ Mr. PortilloHelp with water charges was previously provided through the supplementary benefit scheme, in some cases paid by the local authority along with housing benefit under a special administrative arrangement. This separate provision for water rates ceased from 11 April this year as part of the simplification of the benefit system. However, when setting income support levels, account was taken of the overall amount spent in supplementary benefit on water charges.
Supplementary benefit claimants who were entitled to help with water rates, however paid, will, where necessary, receive transitional protection which took account of the water rates element.