Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the letter of 19 January from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the Inter Faith Network (IFN) about the possible withdrawal of the offer of funding for the financial year 2023–24, what representations they have received from the IFN in response to the Minister's letter; what reply they have made, if any, to these representations; and when a final decision will be taken on funding for IFN's work during the current financial year.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 19 January, the Secretary of State wrote to the Inter Faith Network (IFN) informing them that he was minded to withdraw the offer of funding for 2023/24. This is in view of a member of the Muslim Council of Britain being appointed to the IFN’s Board of Trustees.
Representations made by the IFN were considered by the Secretary of State. This included the role of their trustees and the process of appointing trustees to their board, and what the effect of withdrawing government funding might be.
The Secretary of State concluded that these points were outweighed by the need to maintain the government’s long-standing stance on engagement with the MCB, and the reputational risk involved.
This Government is supportive of efforts by faith groups and others to bring together people of different faiths and beliefs.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 20 March (HL14428), what guidance they have given to local authorities to assess the amount of (1) council tax benefit, and (2) council tax support to which those individuals identified as entitled to income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from incapacity benefit would have been entitled, and on the steps taken to compensate those individuals for any loss.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Local Council Tax Support schemes are designed and operated by individual local authorities. The Government is considering whether individuals being placed on contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), rather than income-related ESA, may have impacted their eligibility for council tax support or council tax benefit and the levels of support granted to them. Subject to the outcomes of this work, the Government will consider the need to produce any specific guidance for local authorities.