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  Scotland Bill - Clause 24 - Power of Scottish Ministers to Change Regulations on Benefits in Respect of Rent
  
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  @ MP voted aye for Scottish Ministers to be able to change regulations relating to benefit payments in respect of rent without the agreement of the Secretary of State.
  @ MP voted no to require the agreement of the Secretary of State before Scottish Ministers can change regulations relating to benefit payments in respect of rent.
  
  The majority of MPs voted to require the agreement of the Secretary of State before Scottish Ministers can change regulations relating to benefit payments in respect of rent.
  
  MPs were considering the Scotland Bill[1]
  
  The amendment rejected in this vote was:
  
  :Amendment 118, page 26, line 20, leave out from âunlessâ to end of line 25 and insert
  
  :âthey have consulted the Secretary of Stateâ
  
  An explanatory note accompanying the amendment stated:
  
  :This amendment would remove the requirement for the Scottish Government to obtain consent from a UK Secretary of State in relation to Universal Credit and the costs of claimants who rent accommodation.
  
  Clause 24 relates to benefit payments via the universal credit system in respect of rent. The subclause which would have been impacted by the rejected amendment stated:
  
  :The Scottish Ministers may not exercise the function of making regulations to which this section applies unlessâ
  :(a)    they have consulted the Secretary of State about the practicability of implementing the regulations, and
  (b)    the Secretary of State has given his or her agreement as to when any
  change made by the regulations is  to start to have effect, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld.
  
  The rejected amendment would have made the condition merely consulting the Secretary of State rather than requiring the agreement of the Secretary of State.
  
  
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  * [1] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/scotland.html Parliament's webpage on the Scotland Bill]
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2015-2016/0003/cbill_2015-20160003_en_4.htm#pt3-pb1-l1g24 Clause 24 of the Scotland Bill (note page and line numbering does not match that used in amendments)]
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  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  