§ Baroness Fisher of Rednalasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that adequate consultation takes place between Department of Social Security local offices and local authority environmental health officers to ensure that health standards are complied with in respect of establishments in which board and lodgings payments are made.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)The responsibility for ensuring that health standards are complied with in respect of board and lodging establishments lies with local authority environmental health officers. Where officials in a DSS local office believe that the conditions of premises encountered in the course of their official duties pose a serious risk to the health of individual claimants, departmental instructions provide that they should pass the address to the local authority.