HC Deb 28 October 2002 vol 391 cc647-8W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to compel local authorities to give disregard for housing and council tax benefit to ex-service personnel. [76984]

Malcolm Wicks

We believe that the current disregard of £10 a week for war disablement and war widows' pensions in the income-related benefits strikes the right balance between acknowledging the special reasons for these pensions and prudent use of public funds.

In addition to the statutory provision, local authorities have the discretionary power to disregard up to the full amount of any war pension in housing benefit and council tax benefit. Any amount on top of the £10 statutory disregard is funded from authorities' own resources.

Local authorities, through their discretionary schemes, are best placed to determine the needs of their local residents, taking account of local priorities. We have no plans to change the present arrangements.