The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 123(1)(d) and (e), 136(3) and (5)(a) and (b), 137(1) and 175(3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19921, sections 30 and 146(1) and (2) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 19962, sections 9 and 10 of the Social Security Act 19983 and sections 12(1), (4)(a) and (b), 17A(1), (2), (5)(a), (d) and (e) and (6) to (9), 20, 20A, 20B(4) to (6), 20E(3)(a), 21, 35(1) and 36(2) and (4) of, and Schedule 1 to, the Jobseekers Act 19954.

These Regulations are made with the consent of the Treasury in respect of provisions relating to section 30 (means testing in case of application by owner-occupier or tenant) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 19965.

In respect of provisions in these Regulations relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit, organisations appearing to the Secretary of State to be representative of the authorities concerned have agreed that consultations need not be undertaken6.

In accordance with section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 19927, the Secretary of State referred the proposals for these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee.