HC Deb 26 November 1992 vol 214 cc807-9W
Mr. Sproat

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the main measures increasing regulation in any areas for which his Department has responsibility, which his Department has caused to be put into effect since 9 April;

(2) if he will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which his Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April;

(3) which Minister in his Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of his Department.

Miss Widdecombe

My noble Friend, Lord Henley, is responsible for the oversight of deregulation within the Department of Social Security.

The potential impact on business and members of the public is taken into account in assessing any proposals for changes in policy and procedure. Moreover, the scope for deregulation and simplification is kept under constant review in the Department.

From April 1992 two changes have been made to the way normal earnings are assessed and verified in family credit making it easier and less time consuming for employers to provide earnings information. The Contributions Agency has a number of initiatives in hand to improve procedures affecting business and to help them towards a better understanding of the National Insurance scheme. A review has been completed of the definitions of earnings for PAYE and national insurance purposes, and its recommendations for simplifying the rules will be implemented from the start of the new tax year, 6 April 1993. Other items currently under review include the frequency with which some people need to renew their NI "exception" certificates, and certain procedures affecting people working abroad.

Since the last general election the Department has laid or made the regulations set out in the tables. Most of these are amendment or technical regulations which do not increase the total regulatory burden or business or the public.

  • 1198—The Income Support (General) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1992
  • 1312—The Social Security (Australia) Order 1992
  • 1326—The Income-Related Benefits Amendment Regulations 1992
  • 1431 (C.48)—The Child Support Act 1991 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992
  • 1440—The Social Security (Contributions) Amendment (No. 6) Regulations 1992
  • 1531—The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1992
  • 1532 (C.52)—The Social Security Act 1990 (Commencement No. 5) Order 1992
  • 1555—The Occupational Pension Schemes (Deficiency on Winding Up etc.) Regulations 1992
  • 1585—The Income-Related Benefits Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 1992
  • 1695—The Social Security (Widows Benefit and Retirement Pensions) (Amendment) Regulations 1992
  • 1700—The Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Amendment Regulations 1992
  • 1735—The Social Security (Jersey and Guernsey) Order 1992
  • 1812—The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations 1992
  • 1813—The Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations 1992
  • 1814—The Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992
  • 1815—The Child Support (Maintenance Assessments and Special Cases) Regulations 1992
  • 1816—The Child Support (Arrears, Interest and Adjustment of Maintenance Assessments) Regulations 1992
  • 1909—The Council Tax Benefit (Transitional) Order 1992
  • 1938 (C.67)—The Child Support Act 1991 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1992
  • 1989—The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
  • 2148—The Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefits (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 1992
  • 2149—The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Amendment Regulations 1992
  • 2155—The income-related Benefits Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 1992
  • 2182—Fines (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1992
  • 2322—The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 1992
  • 2448—The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1992
  • 2595—The Social Security (Miscellaneous Provision Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1992
  • 2640—The Child Support Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations 1992
  • 2641—The Child Support Appeal Tribunals (Procedure) Regulations 1992
  • 2642 (C.82)—The Finance (No. 2) Act 1992, Section 62, (Commencement) Order 1992
  • 2643—The Child Support (Collection and Enforcement of Other Forms of Maintenance) Regulations 1992
  • 2643 (C.83)—The Child Support Act 1991 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1992
    • 809
  • 2645—The Child Support (Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction) Regulations 1992
  • 2804—The Income Support (General) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1992