§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the rehabilitation of ex-offenders seeking accommodation for the first time after leaving a prison institution of the change to housing benefit being paid in arrears under the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1996; and what consultation his Department has had with(a) the Home Office and (b) organisations representing ex-offenders on the impact of these regulations. [31884]
§ Mr. Roger EvansEx-offenders seeking accommodation in the private rented sector will be treated in exactly the same way for housing benefit purposes as any other claimant. Housing benefit will be paid in arrears in respect of all new claims made on or after 7 October 1996, rather than wholly or partly in advance as at present.
Our proposals for the change, which is expected to reduce the number of overpayments of benefit, were subject to consideration by other Departments, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department was also involved. Our proposals were, in addition, referred to the local authority associations and to the Social Security Advisory 105W Committee, SSAC, which consulted widely with interested organisations. The SSAC report drew attention to the position of ex-offenders, but none of the several organisations concerned with the rehabilitation of ex-offenders which responded to the SSAC consultation exercise reported fears that their prospects of rehabilitation would be damaged or unduly affected by the change.