§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what aspects of the(a) funding and (b) administration of housing benefit will be within the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament; what plans he has to review the proposed division of responsibility over housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [55973]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe Scotland Bill currently before Parliament provides that responsibility for matters related to social security policy and administration, including housing benefit, should be reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Parliament will, however, be responsible for any extra costs which result from decisions by local authorities on their housing rent levels which lead to expenditure on rent rebates growing more rapidly in Scotland than in England. I have no plans to review the proposed division of responsibility over housing benefit.