§ Q34. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government have issued new statutory instruments to change the rules about treatment of holiday pay and about the 15-hour study rule without consulting the Social Security Advisory Committee.
§ The Prime MinisterUnder the provisions of section 10(2)(a) of the Social Security Act 1980, the 273W Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Amendment Regulations 1984 (SI No. 518) were not referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee before they were made because of the need, following a decision of a tribunal of social security commissioners, to restore at the earliest opportunity the legal position on the treatment of earnings, including holiday pay, received on termination of employment to what it had preveously been believed to be. The regulations have now been referred to the Committee to consider.
The draft regulations which introduce a new definition of full-time education for child benefit and supplementary benefit have been referred to the Committee and will not be made until it has reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.