§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultation took place between the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of the Environment and the Home Office before their recent proposals on board and lodging benefit were published and whether the proposals were amended as a result.
The Earl of CaithnessThe Department of Health and Social Security always seeks to keep in touch with other departments which have an interest in matters of shared concern, and to take full account of their views.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the considered response of the Social Security Advisory Committee to the submissions on board and lodging benefit will be published, and if so when.
The Earl of CaithnessAs required by the Social Security Act 1980, the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on the Government's recent proposals for changes in supplementary benefit board and lodging payments will be published as a Command paper at the time when regulations are laid in draft before Parliament. It is not yet possible to say precisely when the regulations will be laid.
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§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what way they expect the proposals on board and lodging benefit to achieve value for money from the point of view of the claimant; and whether the proposed restrictions on the area within which claimants may seek accommodation will not prevent people, and especially the young, from seeking jobs where these are available.
The Earl of CaithnessOur new proposals on limits are designed to reflect the reasonable costs for various types of provision, particularly within the residential and nursing home sector. But achieving value for money goes wider than the supplementary benefit scheme, and claimants themselves have a part to play. We expect our proposals to encourage people, especially the young, to seek available jobs.