To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance he has issued to his Department's offices with regard to (a) the new arrangements relating to allowances payable to local authority councillors in general and (b) how the new lump sum payments will be treated in calculating councillors' entitlements to means-tested benefits in particular; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 May 1990]: The office of the chief adjudication officer is responsible for issuing guidance to the Department's offices and will be doing so shortly on the treatment of the revised allowances payable to local authority councillors.These allowances, including any lump sum payments, will continue to be treated as earnings for benefit purposes in the normal way and apportioned on a weekly basis.