To ask the Prime Minister if the Government intend to introduce any changes to the social security legislation to allow local authorities again to operate discretionary rebate schemes.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: Local authorities already have the discretion to disregard war widows pension and war disablement pension in excess of the statutory £10 disregard when assessing housing benefit and community charge benefit entitlement. They also have the power to grant extra benefit to individual claimants in exceptional circumstances. We have no present plans to extend the scope of these powers.