Third Standing Committee on
Delegated Legislation
Tuesday 13 March 2001
[Mr. David Amess in the Chair]
Draft Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001
10.30 am
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Angela Eagle): I beg to move,
That the Committee has considered the draft Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001.
The Chairman: With this it will be convenient to consider the draft Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2001.
Angela Eagle: Thank you, Mr. Amess. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today.
The regulations essentially do what we said that we would do during the passage of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. They move housing benefit reviews to the appeals service and apply the decision-making and appeals regulations to them. That will create consistency throughout the benefit structure and give those who appeal against housing benefit decisions an appropriate independent appeal procedure.
10.31 am
Mr. Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar): I, too, would like to express my pleasure at your chairmanship, Mr. Amess. I compliment you on the quality of your lungs--I shall jump at any sound for weeks after your call for order.
I served on the Standing Committee that considered the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill. Moving the housing benefit appeals function was not contentious. The Minister made several promises in Committee, which I read last night, particularly concerning people who are financially qualified. I can report that she has fulfilled each and every undertaking and that the Opposition do not propose to oppose the regulations.
Question put and agreed to.
Draft Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2001
Resolved,
That the Committee has considered the draft Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2001.—[Angela Eagle.]
Committee rose at twenty-eight minutes to Eleven o'clock.
The following Members attended the Committee:
Amess, Mr. David (Chairman)
Atkinson, Mr. Peter
Coffey, Ms
Davey, Valerie
Eagle, Angela
Griffiths, Jane
Harman, Ms
Mahon, Mrs.
Pearson, Mr.
Pickles, Mr.
Tredinnick, Mr.
Webb, Mr.
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