§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the extent to which a local housing authority may disregard cash in lieu of concessionary coal paid by British Coal in the calculation of housing benefit claims and taking into account any recent decision on this subject taken by a local Department of Health and Social Security tribunal.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIn the income-related benefits, the normal rule is for all forms of income to be taken into account. Regulations provide for certain types of income to be disregarded, in part or fully. Cash in lieu of concessionary coal paid to a retired mineworker or to a mineworker's widow is not specified as disregardable income, and therefore has to be taken fully into account in the calculation of housing benefit and the other income-related benefits. Local authorities do not have any discretion in this matter.