(1)The Secretary of State must at least once in each Parliament review the sums specified in section 96(5A) to determine whether it is appropriate to increase or decrease any one or more of those sums.
(2)The Secretary of State may, at any other time the Secretary of State considers appropriate, review the sums specified in section 96(5A) to determine whether it is appropriate to increase or decrease any one or more of those sums.
(3)In carrying out a review, the Secretary of State must take into account—
(a)the national economic situation, and
(b)any other matters that the Secretary of State considers relevant.
(4)After carrying out a review, the Secretary of State may, if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate, by regulations amend section 96(5A) so as to increase or decrease any one or more of the sums specified in section 96(5A).
(5)Regulations under subsection (4) may provide for amendments of section 96(5A) to come into force—
(a)on different days for different areas;
(b)on different days for different cases or purposes.
(6)Regulations under subsection (4) may make such transitional or transitory provision or savings as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient in connection with the coming into force of any amendment made by regulations under subsection (4).
(7)Regulations under subsection (6) may in particular—
(a)provide for section 96(5A) to have effect as if the amendments made by regulations under subsection (4) had not been made, in relation to such persons or descriptions of persons as are specified in the regulations or generally, until a time or times specified in a notice issued by the Secretary of State;
(b)provide for the Secretary of State to issue notices under paragraph (a) specifying different times for different persons or descriptions of person;
(c)make provision about the issuing of notices under paragraph (a), including provision for the Secretary of State to issue notices to authorities administering housing benefit that have effect in relation to persons specified, or persons of a description specified, in the notices.
(8)Section 176 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (consultation with representative organisations) does not apply in relation to regulations under subsection (4).
(9)If an early parliamentary general election is to take place in accordance with section 2 of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, the duty in subsection (1) is to be disregarded.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 96A inserted (16.3.2016 for specified purposes, 7.11.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 (c. 7), ss. 9(1), 36(3); S.I. 2016/910, reg. 2(1) (with reg. 2(2)(3))