§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes in the present administrative arrangements for the payment of rent rebates and allowances to tenants in receipt of supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. ChannonAfter consultation with the local authority associations and the Advisory Committee on Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and my right hon. and learned learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales 397W and I have decided to simplify the existing arrangements from 1st April 1974 so that these tenants will have an addition to their supplementary benefit for that part of their rent now met by a rent rebate or allowance. To maintain a housing authority's responsibility for rent rebates and allowances to supplementary benefit tenants in its area there will be a financial adjustment between the Department of Health and Social Security and the housing authority on a basis agreed with the local authority associations. Arrangements will be made to explain the effect of the change to the tenants concerned.