The Deputy will be aware from my speech in the House on Tuesday of my plans to withdraw the circulars mentioned and to replace them with a code of practice for those experiencing difficulty with fuel debts. This code will be worked out in consultation with the health boards and the utility companies and will be published as soon as this process is complete.
I am conscious of the need for good quality information which clearly sets out the circumstances in which entitlement may be established or payments made. I am committed to a policy of continuously improving the information available to both customers of my Department and to those who work in the area of welfare advice.
An advisory group has been established under the chairmanship of my Department with representatives from all health boards. The task of the group is to review all aspects of the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme within health boards with a view to achieving consistency in the operation of the scheme. Draft revised rent and mortgage guidelines are currently being examined by the advisory group and I intend to publish the content of these later in the year.
The group will examine and update all guidelines currently in use in the administration of supplementary welfare allowance with the objective of producing comprehensive guidance on the scheme which will be published in due course.
It is established practice within my Department to treat internal circulars, including circulars on the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, as confidential. Department circulars tend to be technical documents which are written for information of staff who are familiar with the subject material.
