Anne McGuire (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Disabled People), Department for Work and Pensions; Stirling, Labour)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the issue. I hope that he will accept that the new clause is not necessary because the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 already contains the power that it seeks to introduce. The difference is that the existing secondary legislation imposes restrictions in cases in which a customer is waiting for a decision on a social fund application. I shall come to that point in a moment.

Regulations made under the 1992 Act are in force and allow housing benefit to be paid for up to four weeks on the former home as well as on the new home if the customer has an unavoidable liability on the former home. Regulations are also in force to enable housing benefit to be paid once a customer has moved for up to four weeks prior to the date of the move if the delay in moving is due to his waiting for a decision to be made on a claim for a social fund payment in respect of a move, and if he is disabled or aged over 60 or has a child aged under five.

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