§ Mr. Terry Fieldsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1982 are being met by the local authority and his Department in Liverpool; and what advice has been given to local authorities and to officers of his Department to cover the changeover period to deal with the situation when delay in payments occurs, or when only interim payments are made, and the tenant is legally responsible for payment of rent, regardless of from which source funding is supposed to come, or when people who have been lifted off supplementary benefit have not yet been identified as housing benefit supplement cases.
§ Dr. BoysonThere have been various local problems which have delayed the full implementation of housing benefit in Liverpool. The Department has issued detailed advice to all local authorities and to its local offices on transitional arrangements where there are delays in the implementation period.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the implementation of the full start of the housing benefits programme from organisations concerned with the welfare of elderly people; and which organisations have made representations to him.
§ Dr. BoysonWe have received representations about housing benefit from Age Concern, the Anchor Trust, and a number of local bodies. These representations cover several aspects of the scheme including rent-free weeks, the method of payment and delays in dealing with claims.