HC Deb 19 March 1996 vol 274 cc146-7W
Mr. Austin-Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the additional costs likely to fall on local authorities as a result of the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 in respect of their statutory duties under(a) existing homelessness legislation, (b) the Children Act 1989 and (c) the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. [21705]

Mr. Clappison

Officials in my Department and the Department of Health have invited the local authority associations to provide information on the likely costs that authorities will face.

Mr. Austin-Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons the special grants he is proposing to make available under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to authorities which face additional costs as a result of the withdrawal of benefits under the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 will be subject to a threshold. [21706]

Mr. Clappison

Because it is reasonable for authorities to meet some costs from their own resources.

Mr. Austin-Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the minimum threshold of expenditure for each London local authority will be in respect of housing benefit subsidy for-gone and unavoidable additional social services expenditure for the special grants under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to authorities which face additional costs from the introduction of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996. [21595]

Mr. Clappison

The thresholds have not yet been determined.

Mr. Austin-Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make special grants available under section 88B of the Local Government Finance act 1988 to authorities which face additional costs from the introduction of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 for the current year only; and what plans he has for similar grants in subsequent years. [21596]

Mr. Clappison

An official in my Department wrote on 26 February to chief executives of local authorities in England explaining the basis on which the Government intend to make special grants available to authorities for 1995–96 and 1996–97. I am placing a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.