§ Mr. Clayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he plans to lay before Parliament the draft regulations for the income support and family credit schemes; and whether before this he plans to make draft regulations available.
§ Mr. MajorWork on the detailed provisions for the income support and family credit schemes is not yet complete. The formal regulations cannot be laid before Parliament until decisions have been taken on the benefit rates in the autumn since it is only possible to legislate on the basis of figures which will be implemented. Before this, we do however intend to place copies of the regulations in draft in the Library when they are finalised apart from the benefit rates.