§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish's remarks on 20th April (H.L. Deb, col. 694), what is the legal extent of their power under the Jobseekers Bill to prescribe that groups of people may have a nil applicable amount, and whether there is any legal limit on their vires to designate a 'group'.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The equivalent of this power is currently used in Income Support to prescribe groups such as members of religious orders, prisoners, and certain persons from abroad. It is intended that the power will be exercised in a similar way in Jobseeker's Allowance. Thevires are subject to the usual legal limits—for example, on questions of rationality of discrimination. Any use of the powers would be subject to judicial review in the normal way.