Explanatory note

Regulation 2 of these Regulations revokes, in relation to England, the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1167), which provide relevant authorities with a power to make discretionary housing payments and regulate the amount of the payments, how claims for payments are to be made and the procedures to be followed by local authorities. It also revokes the Discretionary Housing Payments (Grants) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2340) (“the 2001 Order”), which sets out the basis on which local authorities may claim and be paid grants to reimburse the cost of making discretionary housing payments. It also revokes provisions amending those Regulations and that Order. Those Regulations and that Order continue to have effect in relation to Wales.

Regulation 3 amends article 3 of the 2001 Order, in relation to Wales, to remove the reference to ‘a relevant authority in England and Wales’ as the 2001 Order is revoked in relation to England. It also omits article 7 of the 2001 Order so that there is no limit on the expenditure on discretionary housing payments of local authorities in Wales for the financial year commencing on 1st April 2026 and subsequent financial years.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.