S.I. 2008/695: memorandum from the Department for Work and Pensions

Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment (No.2) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/695)

1.  In its letter to the Department of 2 April 2008, the Joint Committee requested a memorandum on the following points:

Given paragraph 4 in Part 4 of Schedule 4A to the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998, explain why Monmouthshire and Rhondda, Cynon, Taff are included in the table in new Part 5 of that Schedule (substituted by paragraph 4 of the Schedule to this Order) but no figures are included for them.

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

3.  The relevant provisions in the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 deal with the calculation of rent rebate subsidy limitation for local authorities in Wales. No figures were necessary for the areas mentioned by the Committee, and none were included, because there were no rent rebate cases in those areas to which the provisions could apply.

4.  In these circumstances the Department does not consider that the inclusion of these areas will cause any confusion in practice, although it agrees it was not necessary to include them in the table. The relevant part of the 1998 Order is amended on an annual basis to reflect new figures for the next relevant year.

Department for Work and Pensions

7 April 2008