§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a list of all those district councils who do not disregard the first £20 of war widows' and war disabled pensions in calculating council tax and housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HagueThere is a £10 per week statutory disregard of war widows' pensions and war disablement pensions in all of the income-related benefits. In addition, local authorities have the discretion to disregard up to the full amount of these pensions when calculating entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit. We have no plans to change these arrangements.
As the hon. Member originally asked this question of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I have limited the information in the table to Welsh district councils. Housing benefit information has been compiled from the latest available information from local authorities for the financial year 1990–91. No details are available for council tax benefit.
District councils in Wales who do not disregard a further £10 of war widows' pensions1 and war disablement pensions2, in addition to the £10 statutory disregard, when entitlement to housing benefit is calculated399W
- Alyn and Deeside
- Brecknock
- Carmarthen
- Cynon Valley
- Dinefwr
- Lllw Valley
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouth2
- Newport1
- Port Talbot
- Rhymney Valley
- South Pembrokeshire3
- Taff-Ely
- Torfaen1
- Wrexham Maelor
- Ynys Mon
1Applies to war widows' pensions only.
2Applies to war disablement pensions only.
3Denotes a district council which disregards 50 per cent. of a war widow's or war disablement pension, including he £10 statutory disregard.