§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will undertake to refer any proposals to amend the local authority housing benefit review system, and in particular any proposals affecting the housing benefit review boards, to the Council on Tribunals before they implement any changes.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)In the light of research carried out by the Social Policy Research Unit, we intend to recommend to local authorities a number of procedural improvements to the internal review process. We are also proposing one substantive amendment to the regulations relating to internal review. We are still considering the need for further changes, including the need to improve or replace housing benefit review boards—the tribunal tier of the review process. As part of that process we shall be considering which organisations to consult as proposals are developed.