§ Mr. Ken HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to the test of resources for house renovation grants to take account of the new disability living allowance and disability working allowance.
§ Mr. YeoMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have today given to local housing authorities advance notice of amendments to the test of resources applied to applicants for house renovation grants including those to help provide facilities for disabled people. These regulations under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 come into force on 6 April. They introduce disability living allowance and disability working allowance as qualifying conditions for a number of premiums used to calculate the applicable amount in the test of resources. Disability living allowance will replace the current mobility allowance and, where the disability arose before age 65, attendance allowance. As with the two allowances it replaces, this new allowance will be disregarded in full as income in the test.