§ Mr. Hargreavesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce legislation to ensure that all local authorities disregard war pensions and war widows' pensions when calculating housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LyellLegislation currently provides for all authorities to disregard a statutory amount and gives authorities discretion to disregard any additional amounts if they wish. These provisions will remain the same under the reformed scheme to be introduced in April 1988. The Social Security Act 1986 contains the power for authorities to disregard discretionary additional amounts. The proposals on statutory disregards will be included in regulations to be made under the Act next year.