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Welfare Reform Bill

Having already addressed the amendment and got my retaliation in first, I will not bore the Committee by re-reading my text. To emphasise, a member of the household is the carer for most who need and have them. They perform an incredibly valuable service for the community. They would obviously be included in the household and the evaluation that would be made of the type of accommodation, number of bedrooms and so on that should be supported through the local housing allowance. If it is a member of the household, that is already catered for. Where that situation does not exist, there are a range of benefits. Discretionary housing payments might be a part of that, but I will not go through the whole list of benefits available for those with disabilities who need support again. That is the best way to do it, rather than a range of specific exemptions and changes in the new system. Notwithstanding that, one is obviously disturbed to hear the particular case that the noble Lord cited, and pleased that there was an outcome and that there are registered social landlords in the community providing the sort of service which was happily a solution to this problem. Local authorities are obviously active in doing that. I am conscious that this is a fairly general response, but the specific solution to the circumstances that the noble Lord has instanced should not be met by adjusting the approach to the local housing allowance.