§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any proposals for change to housing benefit regulations.
§ Mr. NewtonI have today sent for consultation to the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations draft regulations to exclude from eligibility for housing benefit people who are provided by816W local authorities with accommodation under the National Assistance Act 1948, the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, or the National Health Service Act 1977.
Such provision has always been regarded as properly the responsibility of local authorities as part of their social services function. The Government do not regard it as appropriate for the housing benefit scheme to subsidise local authorities in the discharge of these responsibilities.