§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whom he has appointed to his Regulation Scrutiny Group; and what is its remit; [42253]
(2) what plans he has to introduce changes to the housing benefit and council tax benefit schemes twice a year. [42254]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Regulation Scrutiny Group is made up of officials from the Department and representatives appointed by the local authority associations. Its remit is to consider proposed changes to housing benefit and council tax benefit and to make recommendations on the timing of such changes, taking account of local authorities" capacity to implement them.
We have already made a commitment to the local authority associations that changes to regulations will only be introduced in April and October of each year apart from in very exceptional circumstances. This, combined with the Regulation Scrutiny Group, will go a long way to improving the handling of essential changes to the housing benefit and council tax benefit schemes.