§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of his Department's regional offices currently allow direct payments for benefit claimants to water companies.
§ Mr. BurtDirect payments for water charges are available to people in receipt of income support in England and Wales who meet the criteria in paragraph 7 of schedule 9 the Claims and Payments Regulations 1987. These are that the beneficiary has failed to budget for the charge and that the adjudication officer considers direct payments to be in the interests of the family. These arrangements do not apply in Scotland, where water is paid for through community water charge.