S.I. 2008/587: memorandum from the Department for Work and Pensions

Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Amendment Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/587)

1.  In its letter to the Department of 26 March 2008, the Joint Committee requested a memorandum on the following point:

Given that articles 4 and 13 of the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 2007 came into force on 20 March 2008, why does this instrument (which does not come into force until 7 April) amend those articles and not the instruments which they amended?

2.  The Department's response to the Committee's point is outlined below.

3.  The Department acknowledges that, since articles 4 and 13 of the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 2007, which amended the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 ("the principal Order"), had already come into force by the time this Order was made, this Order should have amended the principal Order itself, rather than the 2007 Order. The Department will correct the error at the earliest possible opportunity.

Department for Work and Pensions

27 March 2008