Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the consultation on attendance allowance.

The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention”, published 5 July 2016, reiterates that the Government will consider giving more responsibility to councils in England to support older people with care needs – including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance. Any new policy would protect existing claimants, and any new responsibilities would be matched by the transfer of equivalent spending power.

The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention” closes at 12.00am on 26 September 2016, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/self-sufficient-local-government-100-business-rates-retention

This is an open consultation and all interested parties are invited to respond. The Government would consult further in good time if changes are proposed.