§ Mr. Raynsfordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made by his Department in its consultations with representatives of local authorities on the detailed arrangements for the new housing benefit scheme; and when he expects to be able to publish firm proposals in respect of (a) certification and liaison between authorities and his Department, (b) service charges, (c) amenity charges, (d) recovery of overpayments, (e) net income assessments and (f) subsidies.
§ Mr. MajorSubstantial progress has been made in discussion on future subsidy arrangements, and exploratory discussions are nearing completion on assessment of net income and liaison arrangements between local authorities and local social security offices.
Our firm proposals on liaison arrangements, service and amenity charges, recovery of overpayments and net income assessment will be set out in regulations. We will consult the local authority associations on these in the usual way, before laying the regulations in draft before Parliament early next year. Firm proposals on subsidy will be set out in an order early in 1988.