§ Mr. Couchmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the three social security reviews covering housing benefit, benefits for children and young persons and supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. FowlerI am now able to announce the appointment of members to the housing benefit, benefits for children and young people and supplementary benefit reviews. The review members will be:
Housing Benefit Review
- Chairman
- Mr. Jeremy Rowe CBE, Chairman of the Peterborough Development Corporation and Deputy Chairman of Abbey National Building Society.
- Members
- Mr. Alan Blakemore CBE, formerly Chief Executive of London Borough of Croydon
- Mrs. Rhea Martin, Lecturer in Law at the Hatfield Polytechnic and a Vice Chairman of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
Review of Benefits for Children and Young People
- Chairman
- Dr. Rhodes Boyson MP, Minister for Social Security at DHSS
- Members
- Mrs. Barbara Shenfield, Chairman of the Womens Royal Voluntary Service
- Mr. T. G. Parry Rogers, Director, Personnel and Europe, of the Plessey Company
Supplementary Benefit Review
- Chairman
- Mr. Tony Newton MP, Minister for the Disabled and Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DHSS
- Members
- Mr. Robin Wendt, Chief Executive of Cheshire County Council and member of the Social Security Advisory Committee
- Mr Basil Collins CBE, Chairman, Nabisco Brands Ltd
The reviews are seeking written evidence initially. A short note is being published by each review team today setting out the arrangements for taking evidence and the major issues on which they are seeking views. The notes are being sent direct to organisations with an interest in the field and are available in the Vote Office. The request for written evidence will be publicised by press advertisements shortly.
Each of the reviews is asking for evidence by 31 July 1984. The ministerial reviews of benefits for children and young people and of supplementary benefit, following the lead of the inquiry into provision for retirement, will also be taking oral evidence in public sessions beginning in July. The housing benefit review team will determine its arrangements for taking oral evidence in due course.