(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order amends the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 (“the 1998 Order”), which provides for the calculation and payment of housing benefit subsidy to local authorities in England and Wales. This Order amends the 1998 Order only in respect of rent rebates for dwellings within the authorities’ Housing Revenue Accounts.
With respect to authorities in England, the Schedule to this Order amends Schedule 4A to the 1998 Order to substitute the RPI figure, the annual factor and the weekly rent limit for the purposes of determining whether or not an authority is liable to a deduction from subsidy payable for 2008-09 (paragraphs 1 and 2).
With respect to authorities in Wales, the Schedule to this Order amends Schedule 4A to the 1998 Order to substitute the specified amount “O” and the guideline rent increase for the purposes of determining whether or not an authority is liable to a deduction from subsidy payable for 2008-09 (paragraph 4). The Schedule also amends Schedule 4A to clarify that in the method used in England and Wales to calculate the average weekly rent for a dwelling for the authority for the relevant year, void dwellings are to be disregarded in the calculation used in Wales (paragraph 3), as they are in England.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors. There is no additional impact on the public sector.