§ Kali MountfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made towards introducing regulations to reform the compensation recovery scheme. [11697]
§ Mr. DenhamWe have announced today that the provisions of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 will come into force on 6 October. We expect to lay the regulations made under the provisions of the Act in early September. Together, the Act and the regulations will
make compensators liable to repay benefits which have been paid as a result of an accident, injury or disease;allow compensators to reduce compensation payments to take account of benefit recovery but only where the benefits and compensation meet the same need;ensure that compensation paid for pain and suffering cannot be reduced; andremove the current small payments limit of £2,500 at or below which benefit recovery does not apply.