§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, he is empowered to direct that payments of income support relating to accommodation charges be made direct to the organisation providing the accommodation in cases where such charges have been incurred, but the claimant has moved on between the date of claim and the first pay day.
§ Mr. PortilloI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 16 June at column281.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether payment direct to the creditor of a debt owed by an income support claimant would be treated as income of the claimant under regulation 42(4)(a)(ii) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987.
§ Mr. PortilloA single payment made by a third party to a creditor of a debt would normally be treated as part of the claimant's capital under regulation 51(3)(a)(ii) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 if it were used in respect of food, clothing, footwear, fuel or certain accommodation costs. Payments made regularly by a third party could he treated as income of the claimant under regulation 42(4)(a)(ii) if they were used in respect of these items. The first £5 a week of these payments would be disregarded.