§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what qualifying and excluding principles now apply to the payment of supplementary benefit to students, following the recently announced changes in the 21-hour rule.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ripon (Dr. Hampson) on 10 May—[Vol. 23, c.198–99]—in which I outlined the present 21-hour rule provisions as interpreted in the guidance issued in March by the Chief Supplementary Benefit Officer—CSBO—and the changes we propose to make in the light of our review of the rule. Draft amending regulations incorporating the Government's proposals for the future have been before the Social Security Advisory Committee for consideration and my right hon. Friend is now considering the committee's report.
On the existing law, the decision of the tribunal of commissioners referred to in the earlier reply has just been issued and I shall have a copy placed in the Library of the House. This decision does not uphold the view of the law hitherto taken by the CSBO.