PART 5DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENTS
I1I291Guidance
1
Local authorities must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers in connection with the exercise of the power conferred by section 88.
2
Guidance under subsection (1) may, in particular, deal with—
a
the rules which authorities are to apply in deciding—
i
whether to give someone financial assistance,
ii
the amount of assistance to give, and
iii
what period to give assistance for,
b
the form of applications for—
i
assistance, and
ii
review of authorities' decisions about the giving of assistance,
c
the processes which authorities are to follow in—
i
determining applications for assistance and review, and
ii
deciding whether to stop giving someone assistance,
d
the circumstances in which authorities should, and should not, seek to recover the value of assistance given in error or following a breach of any of the conditions under which it was given.
3
Guidance under subsection (1) may be addressed to—
a
an authority, or more than one authority, identified in the guidance, or
b
all authorities.
4
Before issuing guidance under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult such body representing authorities as the Ministers think fit.
5
As soon as reasonably practicable after issuing guidance under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the guidance before the Scottish Parliament.
6
The Scottish Ministers must make guidance issued under subsection (1) publicly available.
7
The power to issue guidance under subsection (1) includes the power to—
a
issue guidance which varies guidance issued under that subsection, and
b
revoke guidance issued under that subsection.