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Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2008

My Lords, my understanding is that they are annual allocations to local authorities. It is up to them how they use their discretion in the period over which they are applied. The noble Lord referred to the administration of LHAs. Processing has improved substantially and new-claims clearance times have halved during the past few years. Performance is still variable, and the department works closely with those local authorities whose performance most needs to improve. There will shortly be an opportunity to consider the fundamental policy issues raised in this debate. As we announced when we published our White Paper, Raising Expectations and Increasing Support: Reforming Welfare for the Future, we will shortly publish a consultation document on housing benefit reform. It is clear that the functional administration of this order plays an important part in the delivery of housing benefit and supporting people on low incomes. That is why it is important to introduce these amendments and to provide a stable basis for rent officers to continue their work. Accordingly, I ask the noble Lord not to press his Motion—indeed, I think that he has already helpfully indicated that he does not intend to do so.