2007 No. 26

social Security

The Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Electronic Communications) Order 2007

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force in accordance with article 1

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 8 and 9 of the Electronic Communications Act 20001 and sections 140B, 140C(1), (1A) and (4), 140F(2) and 189(1), (4), (5) and (7) of the Social Security Administration Act 19922.

In accordance with section 8(3) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 he considers that the authorisation of the use of electronic communications by this Order for any purpose is such that the extent (if any) to which records of things done for that purpose that will be available will be no less satisfactory in cases where use is made of electronic communications than in other cases.

In accordance with section 189(8) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 he has sought the consent of the Treasury3.

In accordance with section 176(1) of that Act he has consulted with organisations appearing to him to be representative of the authorities concerned4.

Citation, commencement, effect and interpretation1

1

This Order may be cited as the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Electronic Communications) Order 2007 and shall come into force on 5th February 2007.

2

Article 4(2) shall have effect from 1st April 2004.

3

Articles 2(4)(b), 3 and 4(1) shall have effect from 1st April 2005.

4

Article 4(3) shall have effect from 1st April 2006.

5

In this Order, “the principal Order” means the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 19985.

Amendment of Part II of the principal Order2

1

Part II of the principal Order (claims for and payment of subsidy) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs.

2

In article 2 (interpretation of Parts II and IV) after the definition of “claim form”, insert—

  • “electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000

3

After article 3 (conditions for payment of subsidy), insert—

Electronic communications3A

1

The Secretary of State, an authority or auditor may use an electronic communication in connection with any claim, audit or payment of subsidy provided it is made in accordance with the provisions set out in Part 2 of Schedule 6.

2

Any reference to an electronic communication in this Order means an electronic communication made in accordance with those provisions.

3

Schedule 6 makes further provisions relating to electronic communications.

4

In article 4 (requirement of claim)—

a

in paragraphs (2) and (4) after the words “on the form supplied by him to that authority”, insert “or by means of an electronic communication”;

b

in paragraphs (2)(c) and (3) for “30th June” substitute “31st May”;

c

in paragraph (3) before the words “The final claim”, insert “Except where an authority submits a claim by means of an electronic communication,”;

d

omit paragraph (4A);

e

in paragraph (4B) after the words “on such form as is supplied by him or them”, insert “or by means of an electronic communication”; and

f

in paragraph (5) after the words “shall be signed”, insert “or submitted by means of an electronic communication”.

5

In article 5 (requirement to keep records and provide information)—

a

in sub-paragraph (1)(a) after “paragraph (2)”, insert “in written or electronic form”;

b

in sub-paragraph (1)(b) after the words “produce records”, insert “in written or electronic form”; and

c

in sub-paragraph (2)(a) for “full, accurate and properly calculated”, substitute “fairly stated and in accordance with the relevant articles of this Order”.

6

In article 6 (requirement of audit)—

a

in paragraph (1)(ia) after the words “is submitted to the Secretary of State”, insert “in written or electronic form”;

b

in paragraph (2)(a) after the words “such information”, insert “in written or electronic form”;

c

for sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (2) and the words following that paragraph substitute—

b

keep, and where asked to do so, produce records in written or electronic form with a bearing on its claim,

as may be required by the auditor or as may be otherwise required to enable that authority to show and its auditor to check, that that claim is fairly stated and in accordance with the relevant articles of this Order.

d

for paragraph (3) substitute—

3

No final subsidy shall be paid until the authority’s auditor has certified on the claim for or by means of an electronic communication that the final claim is fairly stated and in accordance with the relevant articles of this Order.

Amendment of Part III of the principal Order3

1

Omit article 18(5)(a) of the principal Order (additions to subsidy).

2

Omit article 23(2) of the principal Order (transitional provisions in relation to rent officer determinations).

Amendment of the Schedules to the principal Order4

1

For Schedule 1 to the principal Order (sums to be used in the calculation of subsidy) substitute as Schedule 1 the Schedule set out in Schedule 1 to this Order.

2

In Schedule 4 to the principal Order (high rents and rent allowances)—

a

in paragraphs 7, 8(3), 9(2) to (5) and 11 of Part 2 (rent officers’ determinations); and

b

in paragraph 15 of Part 3 (reckonable rent cases),

for “95 per cent”, substitute “100 per cent”.

3

In Schedule 4A to the principal Order (rent rebate limitation deductions (housing revenue account dwellings))—

a

in paragraph 2(4) (liability to deduction)—

i

in step 1 and 2 for “service charges were imposed” substitute “rent was charged”; and

ii

in step 4 for “new service charges were imposed” substitute “rent was charged”

b

after paragraph 2(7), insert—

8

For the purposes of calculating the total number of weeks for which rent is charged in sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) rent free periods shall be included.

c

in the table in Part 3 (weekly rent limits for purposes of Part 2: authorities in England), in the entry relating to Dover for “£61.53”, substitute “£63.05”.

4

After Schedule 4A to the principal Order insert as Schedule 6 the Schedule set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

James PlaskittParliamentary Under-Secretary of State,Department for Work and Pensions

We consent

Claire WardDave WattsTwo of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

SCHEDULE 1SCHEDULE TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SCHEDULE 1 TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDER

Article 3

SCHEDULE 1SUMS TO BE USED IN THE CALCULATION OF SUBSIDY

Articles 12(1)(b)and 17(1) and (8)

Administration subsidy

Non-HRA Rent Rebates

Threshold

Cap

England

(£)

(£)

(£)

Adur

541,150

117.63

203.30

Allerdale

820,662

94.42

162.87

Alnwick

187,588

81.85

141.83

Amber Valley

2,177,537

94.89

163.87

Arun

801,040

123.12

212.38

Ashfield

694,574

89.10

153.87

Ashford

544,777

116.91

201.88

Aylesbury Vale

553,713

113.05

195.67

Babergh

391,953

108.20

186.83

Barking and Dagenham

3,467,516

223.51

346.99

Barnet

2,459,834

223.51

346.99

Barnsley

1,679,991

79.15

137.65

Barrow in Furness

576,998

98.76

170.54

Basildon

1,197,999

114.95

198.50

Basingstoke and Deane

719,350

117.07

201.95

Bassetlaw

630,003

99.33

171.53

Bath & North East Somerset

1,112,332

100.71

173.73

Bedford

962,281

93.24

161.42

Berwick upon Tweed

184,582

88.60

152.98

Bexley

1,362,860

223.51

346.99

Birmingham

10,721,429

95.47

165.32

Blaby

295,933

85.08

147.23

Blackburn with Darwen

1,550,729

108.94

187.92

Blackpool

2,142,732

90.73

160.83

Blyth Valley

604,122

75.02

129.88

Bolsover

639,470

77.36

136.39

Bolton

2,657,289

81.72

142.4

Boston

411,275

85.21

147.31

Bournemouth

1,474,200

102.41

187.95

Bracknell Forest

493,431

127.2

223.22

Bradford

4,201,293

86.20

158.19

Braintree

670,747

104.64

180.69

Breckland

960,122

107.01

185.25

Brent

3,652,904

223.51

366.97

Brentwood

388,832

118.62

204.84

Bridgnorth

304,791

96.45

167.79

Brighton and Hove

2,451,490

105.84

203.09

Bristol

3,016,186

93.23

180.00

Broadland

564,628

107.01

185.25

Bromley

1,833,635

223.51

346.99

Bromsgrove

599,819

99.45

179.46

Broxbourne

416,427

126.48

218.41

Broxtowe

1,083,155

81.36

141.69

Burnley

963,316

96.75

166.89

Bury

1,259,114

94.23

162.72

Calderdale

1,471,710

83.75

144.71

Cambridge

614,340

111.41

192.38

Camden

3,367,912

223.51

365.30

Cannock Chase

518,977

99.89

178.38

Canterbury

879,676

112.34

193.97

Caradon

455,141

94.69

163.51

Carlisle

908,624

92.14

159.10

Carrick

546,892

107.83

186.20

Castle Morpeth

202,845

88.89

153.50

Castle Point

673,294

122.30

211.18

Charnwood

584,764

85.61

147.85

Chelmsford

796,312

119.70

207.46

Cheltenham

601,259

121.58

209.93

Cherwell

633,201

117.87

203.82

Chester

847,625

89.00

153.52

Chester le Street

499,581

82.28

142.53

Chesterfield

794,632

81.69

141.06

Chichester

642,039

118.48

204.37

Chiltern

376,484

117.07

201.95

Chorley

481,619

83.82

145.54

Christchurch

264,923

100.71

184.64

City of London

102,295

223.51

346.99

Colchester

804,419

110.25

191.93

Congleton

387,214

94.42

162.87

Copeland

958,391

88.71

164.58

Corby

329,919

91.42

163.13

Cotswold

558,760

100.71

173.73

Coventry

2,977,295

81.21

155.64

Craven

250,835

100.12

172.89

Crawley

563,744

126.74

219.64

Crewe and Nantwich

715,779

99.90

179.69

Croydon

3,439,965

223.51

360.44

Dacorum

741,450

110.97

194.04

Darlington

787,433

86.96

150.16

Dartford

700,602

114.85

198.32

Daventry

242,633

91.32

157.69

Derby

1,907,939

90.19

155.76

Derbyshire Dales

309,095

91.57

158.47

Derwentside

1,047,550

89.71

154.91

Doncaster

2,029,010

82.28

144.48

Dover

870,579

116.94

201.93

Dudley

2,201,242

95.78

167.82

Durham

713,680

84.71

148.23

Ealing

2,370,849

223.51

351.19

Easington

952,559

87.21

150.59

East Cambridgeshire

363,667

107.01

185.25

East Devon

549,226

91.41

167.75

East Dorset

391,512

100.71

184.64

East Hampshire

500,372

117.07

201.95

East Hertfordshire

508,022

127.90

221.65

East Lindsey

957,002

87.82

151.81

East Northamptonshire

412,822

98.10

169.60

East Riding of Yorkshire

1,651,981

87.66

155.41

East Staffordshire

746,426

85.52

147.52

Eastbourne

929,671

105.32

193.31

Eastleigh

497,202

117.07

201.95

Eden

216,951

94.42

162.87

Ellesmere Port and Neston

681,717

73.57

145.96

Elmbridge

683,799

133.53

230.32

Enfield

2,962,511

223.51

346.99

Epping Forest

574,529

113.34

196.26

Epsom and Ewell

239,878

117.07

201.95

Erewash

606,111

83.97

145.31

Exeter

793,266

88.54

162.50

Fareham

315,483

110.95

195.45

Fenland

548,408

100.56

173.66

Forest Heath

213,305

99.04

171.03

Forest of Dean

705,851

96.52

166.67

Fylde

373,689

82.51

142.31

Gateshead

4,151,653

87.29

150.74

Gedling

550,834

83.14

144.18

Gloucester

720,049

105.41

182.02

Gosport

418,312

108.81

187.90

Gravesham

916,856

111.04

191.76

Great Yarmouth

1,267,467

83.55

153.34

Greenwich

3,455,031

223.51

346.99

Guildford

508,357

134.07

231.52

Hackney

4,098,097

223.51

347.48

Halton

1,405,420

86.83

155.33

Hambleton

535,304

83.08

152.54

Hammersmith and Fulham

2,405,655

223.51

346.99

Harborough

428,222

103.09

178.01

Haringey

2,767,088

223.51

346.99

Harlow

579,851

109.42

188.94

Harrogate

585,388

106.57

184.04

Harrow

1,307,876

223.51

381.29

Hart

513,841

117.07

201.95

Hartlepool

1,182,656

90.16

155.69

Hastings

1,018,078

117.07

201.95

Havant

642,013

117.07

201.95

Havering

1,249,238

223.51

346.99

Herefordshire

1,117,571

89.64

154.80

Hertsmere

530,671

107.01

185.25

High Peak

449,673

96.94

167.39

Hillingdon

1,591,178

223.51

383.39

Hinckley and Bosworth

356,258

93.60

161.64

Horsham

703,607

138.41

238.74

Hounslow

1,569,795

223.51

346.99

Huntingdonshire

725,955

115.92

200.68

Hyndburn

656,521

93.45

161.20

Ipswich

929,602

99.72

172.19

Isle of Wight

1,076,317

117.07

201.95

Isles of Scilly

7,951

104.08

179.73

Islington

3,485,205

223.51

359.52

Kennet

359,786

100.71

173.73

Kensington and Chelsea

2,158,521

223.51

396.15

Kerrier

810,317

100.71

173.73

Kettering

404,257

90.21

157.06

Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

1,024,778

87.62

159.42

Kingston upon Hull

3,087,282

90.63

162.38

Kingston upon Thames

695,047

223.51

372.60

Kirklees

2,566,641

91.86

158.64

Knowsley

2,069,706

102.02

176.17

Lambeth

4,509,682

223.51

346.99

Lancaster

902,217

90.85

156.87

Leeds

6,087,011

83.41

153.46

Leicester

3,156,743

92.52

159.61

Lewes

492,190

113.59

197.50

Lewisham

4,044,602

223.51

346.99

Lichfield

606,649

92.82

160.12

Lincoln

796,442

87.56

151.20

Liverpool

6,165,922

93.12

160.83

Luton

1,292,893

114.55

197.81

Macclesfield

645,726

103.10

193.20

Maidstone

762,416

116.30

200.82

Maldon

306,138

107.01

185.25

Malvern Hills

464,980

92.82

160.12

Manchester

5,994,281

109.17

188.51

Mansfield

739,362

93.71

161.65

Medway

1,576,395

114.85

198.32

Melton

159,782

84.14

149.23

Mendip

769,027

99.23

171.18

Merton

1,048,254

223.51

346.99

Mid Bedfordshire

665,055

106.32

184.26

Mid Devon

367,375

94.27

162.80

Mid Suffolk

307,758

100.56

173.66

Mid Sussex

1,442,432

117.07

201.95

Middlesbrough

1,540,524

98.66

170.37

Milton Keynes

1,229,471

114.35

198.30

Mole Valley

278,432

113.82

196.54

New Forest

726,720

126.10

217.76

Newark and Sherwood

555,099

87.56

151.19

Newcastle under Lyme

755,700

78.70

150.86

Newcastle upon Tyne

3,540,011

85.76

148.09

Newham

3,270,945

223.51

346.99

North Cornwall

785,134

95.06

164.14

North Devon

761,263

109.95

189.66

North Dorset

442,945

100.71

173.73

North East Derby

555,051

79.87

141.45

North East Lincoln

1,425,452

85.81

153.36

North Hertfordshire

804,148

115.06

204.65

North Kesteven

477,640

87.53

151.13

North Lincolnshire

1,017,814

83.07

143.97

North Norfolk

694,904

92.45

159.84

North Shropshire

279,310

86.90

151.02

North Somerset

1,113,123

115.92

200.17

North Tyneside

1,964,942

80.25

139.34

North Warwickshire

437,768

91.58

160.70

North West Leicestershire

372,649

86.63

149.59

North Wiltshire

623,597

100.71

173.73

Northampton

2,002,351

113.90

196.67

Norwich

1,147,991

90.26

156.40

Nottingham

2,783,167

83.96

144.99

Nuneaton and Bedworth

822,002

88.81

154.92

Oadby and Wigston

286,631

85.39

148.27

Oldham

1,908,799

83.75

153.13

Oswestry

187,813

89.56

154.65

Oxford

866,910

122.71

213.93

Pendle

753,190

87.23

150.64

Penwith

812,198

94.58

173.40

Peterborough

1,499,900

114.08

197.00

Plymouth

2,452,020

92.07

158.97

Poole

1,072,501

104.52

191.62

Portsmouth

1,561,051

111.09

191.81

Preston

984,115

94.99

164.01

Purbeck

216,233

116.19

200.62

Reading

1,238,833

135.67

234.27

Redbridge

1,493,193

223.51

352.76

Redcar and Cleveland

1,486,136

94.34

162.90

Redditch

571,209

100.51

173.57

Reigate and Banstead

513,075

131.92

227.79

Restormel

927,144

108.16

186.57

Ribble Valley

160,730

81.96

141.52

Richmond upon Thames

971,006

223.51

346.99

Richmondshire

179,836

97.21

167.85

Rochdale

3,608,972

87.10

150.41

Rochford

353,263

103.82

179.26

Rossendale

570,634

88.21

152.16

Rother

655,384

117.07

201.95

Rotherham

1,793,414

73.64

132.52

Rugby

542,118

94.15

163.62

Runnymede

312,692

138.57

239.29

Rushcliffe

364,891

96.48

168.17

Rushmoor

421,480

117.07

201.95

Rutland

101,833

102.90

177.70

Ryedale

364,478

83.08

152.54

Salford

2,769,586

96.36

166.39

Salisbury

481,187

121.97

216.09

Sandwell

2,939,378

103.71

180.64

Scarborough

1,061,827

98.94

170.84

Sedgefield

892,905

85.26

147.64

Sedgemoor

578,007

106.66

184.18

Sefton

2,523,338

98.01

169.49

Selby

550,697

92.79

160.24

Sevenoaks

684,206

117.07

201.95

Sheffield

4,342,187

83.75

144.74

Shepway

753,323

107.33

185.33

Shrewsbury and Atcham

655,452

95.11

164.24

Slough

869,970

122.26

213.37

Solihull

963,097

99.57

171.94

South Bedfordshire

489,805

119.67

207.86

South Bucks

715,344

117.07

201.95

South Cambridgeshire

408,947

119.89

207.03

South Derbyshire

353,337

94.21

162.67

South Gloucestershire

2,774,785

102.68

180.81

South Hams

786,066

100.71

173.73

South Holland

575,231

89.35

154.30

South Kesteven

514,260

92.28

161.34

South Lakeland

453,490

106.13

188.71

South Norfolk

573,411

97.21

167.85

South Northamptonshire

201,640

106.08

184.62

South Oxfordshire

535,396

117.07

201.95

South Ribble

655,774

94.42

162.87

South Shropshire

236,887

92.82

160.12

South Somerset

820,781

100.71

173.73

South Staffordshire

744,790

92.82

160.12

South Tyneside

1,868,061

78.12

136.67

Southampton

1,772,938

98.03

188.07

Southend on Sea

1,451,034

106.44

183.80

Southwark

5,314,651

223.51

346.99

Spelthorne

446,961

117.07

201.95

St Albans

537,738

118.06

205.35

St Edmundsbury

524,174

106.04

183.78

St Helens

1,706,323

100.64

173.78

Stafford

681,083

92.82

160.12

Staffordshire Moorlands

459,312

90.27

155.71

Stevenage

566,404

116.92

201.89

Stockport

1,508,996

85.47

164.34

Stockton on Tees

1,303,882

89.51

155.97

Stoke on Trent

2,999,929

89.33

154.24

Stratford on Avon

575,445

92.82

160.12

Stroud

617,771

107.03

184.81

Suffolk Coastal

593,364

97.13

168.14

Sunderland

4,104,354

97.04

167.40

Surrey Heath

246,977

117.07

201.95

Sutton

937,379

223.51

346.99

Swale

988,384

117.07

201.95

Swindon

891,670

95.38

166.55

Tameside

1,983,153

99.17

171.06

Tamworth

391,561

97.36

169.29

Tandridge

250,169

116.83

203.44

Taunton Deane

785,620

94.94

163.94

Teesdale

141,953

87.05

150.31

Teignbridge

904,466

112.26

193.86

Telford and Wrekin

1,252,063

92.82

160.12

Tendring

1,052,313

98.00

179.86

Test Valley

472,663

113.80

196.29

Tewkesbury

351,544

92.87

160.20

Thanet

1,560,632

106.35

183.64

Three Rivers

348,065

120.56

209.77

Thurrock

910,565

113.49

195.95

Tonbridge and Malling

605,472

117.07

201.95

Torbay

1,319,475

103.66

178.81

Torridge

463,075

102.57

177.11

Tower Hamlets

4,313,752

223.51

374.38

Trafford

1,304,835

95.94

165.66

Tunbridge Wells

655,838

117.07

201.95

Tynedale

356,005

93.57

161.41

Uttlesford

283,576

117.32

202.66

Vale of White Horse

446,705

117.07

201.95

Vale Royal

1,056,871

94.94

163.95

Wakefield

2,009,095

83.83

156.34

Walsall

2,722,971

95.48

164.89

Waltham Forest

2,188,169

223.51

367.87

Wandsworth

2,402,306

223.51

390.57

Wansbeck

490,155

74.07

127.90

Warrington

1,265,550

95.33

164.61

Warwick

659,071

101.13

176.96

Watford

480,458

117.41

202.72

Waveney

1,015,793

92.30

159.38

Waverley

429,795

127.22

219.45

Wealden

557,215

99.81

191.49

Wear Valley

629,981

86.22

148.87

Wellingborough

361,833

93.99

162.29

Welwyn Hatfield

535,731

110.25

193.38

West Berkshire

905,001

117.07

201.95

West Devon

265,001

100.71

173.73

West Dorset

546,291

100.71

173.73

West Lancashire

934,290

89.13

155.22

West Lindsey

491,595

86.71

149.91

West Oxfordshire

420,810

112.22

193.59

West Somerset

283,361

100.71

173.73

West Wiltshire

658,210

115.04

198.44

Westminster

2,260,565

223.51

428.82

Weymouth and Portland

613,230

104.29

179.90

Wigan

2,162,909

89.41

154.39

Winchester

399,158

117.53

202.95

Windsor and Maidenhead

768,568

117.07

201.95

Wirral

2,975,390

104.37

180.21

Woking

346,099

151.4

261.45

Wokingham

305,817

118.29

210.01

Wolverhampton

2,283,266

86.71

160.13

Worcester

592,374

89.41

156.05

Worthing

610,368

117.07

201.95

Wychavon

654,519

116.85

201.54

Wycombe

630,922

134.52

232.29

Wyre

785,444

94.80

163.52

Wyre Forest

798,083

96.56

166.56

York

802,154

98.23

169.61

Wales

Blaenau Gwent

799,019

91.65

158.24

Bridgend

988,768

93.01

160.62

Caerphilly

1,250,336

98.31

169.76

Cardiff

2,228,733

103.42

179.59

Carmarthenshire

1,180,478

89.75

154.98

Ceredigion

379,744

98.37

169.86

Conwy

1,792,884

86.52

156.20

Denbighshire

630,626

84.15

146.72

Flintshire

797,706

89.49

154.73

Gwynedd

753,834

89.13

153.90

Isle of Anglesey

669,910

87.88

151.74

Merthyr Tydfil

817,642

89.17

153.98

Monmouthshire

475,585

103.25

179.51

Neath Port Talbot

1,124,438

90.39

156.09

Newport

1,012,024

97.89

171.18

Pembrokeshire

851,138

87.86

151.70

Powys

725,790

92.14

159.35

Rhondda Cynon Taff

1,987,547

87.70

151.44

Swansea

1,737,342

93.70

161.81

Torfaen

627,677

101.74

177.30

Vale of Glamorgan

807,675

105.59

182.34

Wrexham

891,479

83.92

145.37

Scotland

Aberdeen

1,488,421

79.65

139.02

Aberdeenshire

1,162,226

75.09

133.40

Angus

932,799

70.27

126.75

Argyll and Bute

606,884

85.63

147.88

Clackmannanshire

419,879

75.46

139.24

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

183,493

88.56

154.86

Dumfries and Galloway

1,315,712

80.33

141.23

Dundee

2,072,708

87.31

152.30

East Ayrshire

1,136,017

76.85

132.82

East Dunbartonshire

453,465

82.14

145.45

East Lothian

5,435,595

73.87

127.56

East Renfrewshire

354,131

78.82

144.59

Edinburgh

4,324,973

100.39

173.35

Falkirk

1,101,183

80.03

147.09

Fife

2,807,442

76.13

136.38

Glasgow

11,743,523

101.72

175.65

Highland

1,369,487

93.42

161.30

Inverclyde

922,614

95.55

170.47

Midlothian

762,226

66.98

115.67

Moray

449,823

67.74

116.96

North Ayrshire

1,390,101

71.99

127.46

North Lanarkshire

3,005,055

83.85

146.60

Orkney Islands

94,955

78.51

135.56

Perth & Kinross

734,348

71.28

123.09

Renfrewshire

1,918,068

87.13

158.90

Scottish Borders

828,671

75.83

130.93

Shetland

84,568

102.20

176.47

South Ayrshire

908,735

78.20

135.01

South Lanarkshire

2,633,563

85.82

148.19

Stirling

544,644

80.89

139.66

West Dunbartonshire

1,212,914

80.57

139.14

West Lothian

1,547,073

82.78

169.42

SCHEDULE 2SCHEDULE TO BE INSERTED AS SCHEDULE 6 TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDER

Articles 4(4)

SCHEDULE 6ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Articles 3A

PART 1INTERPRETATION

Interpretation1

In this Schedule “official computer system” means a computer system maintained by or on behalf of the Secretary of State for the sending, receipt, processing or storage of any claim or return.

PART 2ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Conditions for the use of electronic communications2

1

An authority or auditor must use an approved method of—

a

electronic communication;

b

authenticating the identity of the sender of the communication;

c

authenticating any claim or return delivered by means of an electronic communication; and

d

submitting to the Secretary of State any claim or return.

2

An authority or auditor must submit any claim or return by means of an electronic communication in an approved form.

3

Where a claim or return is submitted electronically but not in accordance with the conditions specified in this paragraph, that claim or return shall be treated as not having been submitted.

4

In this paragraph “approved” means approved by means of a direction given by the Secretary of State.

Use of intermediaries3

The Secretary of State may—

a

use intermediaries in connection with the receipt, authentication or security of any claim or return delivered by means of an electronic communication; and

b

require authorities or auditors to use intermediaries in connection with those matters.

PART 3ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION - EVIDENTIAL PROVISIONS

Effect of delivering information by means of electronic communication4

1

Any claim or return which is delivered by means of an electronic communication shall be treated as having been delivered in the approved manner or form on the day the conditions imposed—

a

by or under this Schedule; and

b

by or under Part II of this Order

are satisfied.

2

The Secretary of State may, by a direction, determine that any claim or return is to be treated as delivered on a different day (whether earlier or later) from the day provided for in sub-paragraph (1).

3

A claim or return shall not be treated as delivered to an official computer system by means of an electronic communication unless it is accepted by the system to which it is delivered.

Proof of identify of sender or recipient of information5

For the purpose of any legal proceedings, it shall be presumed that the identity of the sender or recipient, as the case may be, of any claim or return delivered by means of an electronic communication to an official computer system is the same as is recorded on that official computer system.

Proof of delivery of information6

1

For the purpose of any legal proceedings, it shall be presumed that—

a

if the delivery of any claim or return has been recorded on an official computer system, the use of an electronic communication has resulted in the delivery of that claim or return to the Secretary of State;

b

if the delivery of any claim or return submitted by means of an electronic communication to the Secretary of State has not been recorded on an official computer system, no delivery has been made;

c

any claim or return submitted by means of an electronic communication has been received on the time and date recorded on an official computer system.

Proof of content of information7

For the purpose of any legal proceedings, the content of any claim or return submitted by means of an electronic communication shall be presumed to be that recorded on an official computer system.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/562) (“the principal Order”) which provides for subsidy to be payable by the Secretary of State to authorities administering housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Sections 140C(4) and 140F(2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(c.5) authorise the making, revocation or varying of an Order before, during or after the year to which it relates. Certain amendments made by this Order shall have retrospective effect.

Article 2 amends Part II of the principal Order which is concerned with claiming and paying subsidy. A new article 3A is inserted, which authorises the Secretary of State, local authorities and auditors to use an electronic communication in connection with the claim, audit or payment of subsidy where the conditions listed in Schedule 6 of the principal Order are met. Article 2 also makes consequential amendments to other parts of Part II to clarify the audit process.

Article 3 makes a minor amendment to Part III of the principal Order.

Article 4 amends the Schedules to the principal Order. Article 4(1) substitutes the figures to be used in the calculation of subsidy which are outlined in Schedule 1 to this Order for those in Schedule 1 to the principal Order. Article 4(2) increases the subsidy paid to authorities in certain cases to 100%. Article 4(3) makes some amendments to calculation of rent rebate limitation deductions.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business, charities and voluntary bodies.