States Assembly | Income Support - Review of Benefit Levels - Approved Panel Minutes

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Health, Social Security & Housing Scrutiny Panel

Income Support

PUBLIC SESSION Record of Meeting

Date: 10th March 2008 Meeting Number: 31

Present	Deputy J. A. Martin – Chairman, Deputy G. Southern , Vice-Chairman, Deputy C. J. Scott Warr en and Connétable S. A. Yates
Apologies
Absent
In attendance	Charlie Ahier , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back	Agenda matter	Action
	1. Notes of previous meetings The Sub-Panel approved the notes of their meeting of the 29th February 2008.
	2. Matters Arising The Sub-Panel noted that the Education, Sport & Culture Department had requested that correspondence to the Head Teacher at Mont à L'Abbé School seeking a meeting with parents be channelled through them. The Sub-Panel noted arrangements for correspondence with other States Departments.
	3. Public responses to the Call for Evidence' The Sub-Panel received and noted the log of submissions from members of the public. The Sub-Panel noted some concerns amongst Connétable s about the implementation of Income Support. In particular the payment of residential fees for Les Amis. It was further noted that some Parish Secretaries were not entirely satisfied with the Income Support system and that some Connétable s may be losing touch with their parishioners as a result of Income Support. The Sub-Panel received and noted information relating to the payments of Attendance Allowance in 2006. The Sub-Panel discussed requesting a breakdown by child/adult of said information. It was agreed that under the Income Support system such a request would not be easily achieved. Deputy Scott Warr en agreed to investigate the payment of Attendance Allowance in the UK. Following due consideration of the submissions the Sub-Panel	CSW

	agreed to the following actions: Write to the Minister for Social Security to clarify what assistance claimants with debt problems receive form the Social Security Department; Group the individual submissions into common areas of concern; Write to the Minister for Social Security for confirmation as to when the letters to claimants clarifying the changes to their payments in October will be sent; Write to the Minister for Social Security to clarify why visits to Homeopathic Doctors are not now covered under Income Support; and Write to the Minister for Social Security seeking clarification as to the difference between Adult Disability Allowance' and Attendance Allowance'.	CA CA CA CA CA
	4. Legal Advice The Sub-Panel considered the responses from legal firms to their request for assistance with the provision of legal advice. The Sub- Panel agreed to engage Advocate Rosemary Colley of Vibert s.	CA
	5. Media Advertisement The Sub-Panel were informed that the Chairman was progressing the matter and that the advertisement would be placed on the radio within the following two weeks though would not coincide with the Easter weekend. The Chairman asked the Sub-Panel to inform her of any particular issues they believed should be included in the advertisement.	JM/CA
	6. Date of next meeting The Sub-Panel agreed not to set a date for their next meeting.

Initialled. Date..

Income Support - Review of Benefit Levels - Approved Panel Minutes - 10 March 2008