DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Dear Ms Burnip

I am writing in response to your further request for information, made under the Freedom of Information Act, about the disability impact assessment in relation to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) regulations, which we received on 24 January.

It may help if I clarify the purpose of the Regulatory Impact Assessments that I referred to in my previous answer. The purpose of this document is to enable us to explain the Government's proposals in more depth, to consider how they impact on the public, private and third sectors and to look at the costs of new legislation. They are not specifically designed to address the impact of legislation on disabled people and as such there is no area that relates specifically to the impact of the LHA on disabled people within this document.

It may also help if I explain the Department's obligations in relation to the Disability Equality Duty and how these obligations were fulfilled in relation to the rollout of the LHA. You may be aware that the introduction of the LHA was made possible by the Welfare Reform Act 2007. During the passage of this Bill through Parliament, the impact of the LHA was debated at length, including the impact of the proposals on disabled people. Whilst no specific disability impact assessment was carried out in relation to the LHA, this was because the Department was satisfied that its responsibilities were met as part of the wider regulatory impact assessments that were undertaken as part of the Welfare Reform Act.

If you are not satisfied with my handling of your request please tell me why within two calendar months of the date of this letter. I will then arrange for someone to conduct an internal review of your request and the handling of it. The review will be conducted by another officer, usually of a more senior grade to me. This person will have taken no part in the original handling of your request. You will be advised you of the reviewing officer's decision in writing.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner to look into the way your request has been handled. Please note that generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted DWP's own complaints procedure. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

FoI Complaints Resolution

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Fax: 01625 524 510

Email: [email address]

Yours sincerely,

Penny Higgins

WWEG Housing Costs