DOCSLIB.ORG

2020-21 Council Tax Support Scheme

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2020-21 Council Tax Support Scheme The London Borough of Merton Local Council Tax Support Scheme Rules from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 Enabling Powers 1.The Welfare Reform Act 2012 abolished Council Tax Benefit national scheme on 31st March 2013. Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14) (“the 1992 Act”), substituted by section 10 of the Local Government Finance Act 2012, requires each billing authority to produce it’s own local Council Tax Reduction Scheme to enable persons liable for council tax to reduce their liability based on financial need. Citation, commencement and application 2. These rules may be cited as The London Borough of Merton Local Council Tax Support Scheme Rules 2020 and come into force on 1st April 2020. Basis for the local scheme 3. The London Borough of Merton Local Council Tax Support Scheme Rules 2020 are based on: The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (England) Regulations 2012 (Statutory Instrument 2012 No. 2886) and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2012 (Statutory Instrument 2012 No. 2885) as amended by The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (Statutory Instrument 2012 No. 3085) which came into force 10 January 2013 ) and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (Statutory Instrument 2013 No. 3181) which came into force on 13 January 2014 and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 3312) which came into force on 12 January 2015 and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 (Statutory Instrument 2015 No. 2041) which came into force on 14 January 2016 and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2016 (Statutory Instrument 2016 No.1262) and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2017(Statutory Instrument 2017 No.1305) which came into force on 12 January 2018 except Regulations 10, 11 and 14(b) 6 which came into force on 6 December 2018; The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2018(Statutory Instrument 2018 No.1346) which came into force on 14 January 2019; and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2020(Statutory Instrument 2020 No.23) which came into force on 11 February 2020. The Schedule to these Regulations is the scheme prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 4 of Schedule 1A to the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 2 The London Borough of Merton Local Council Tax Support Scheme Rules from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 Contents PART 1 .......................................................................................................... 12 1.Introduction .......................................................................................... 12 PART 2 .......................................................................................................... 12 2.Interpretation ........................................................................................ 12 3.Application of scheme: pensioners and persons who are not pensioners ................................................................................................................ 22 4. Meaning of “couple” ............................................................................ 22 5. Polygamous marriages ....................................................................... 22 6. Meaning of “family” ............................................................................. 22 7. Circumstances in which a person is to be treated as responsible or not responsible for another ........................................................................... 23 8. Households ......................................................................................... 23 9. Non-dependants ................................................................................. 24 10. Remunerative work ........................................................................... 25 PART 3 .......................................................................................................... 27 Procedural matters .............................................................................................. 27 11. Procedure for reduction applications and appeals against reduction decisions ................................................................................................. 27 PART 4 .......................................................................................................... 27 Classes of person entitled to a reduction under this scheme ............................... 27 12. Classes of person entitled to a reduction under this scheme ............ 27 13. Class A: pensioners whose income is no greater than the applicable amount .................................................................................................... 27 14. Class B: pensioners whose income is greater than the applicable amount .................................................................................................... 27 15. Class C: alternative maximum council tax reduction – pensioners ... 28 16. Class D: persons who are not pensioners whose income is less than the applicable amount ............................................................................. 28 17. Class E: persons who are not pensioners whose income is greater than the applicable amount ..................................................................... 29 18. Class F: alternative maximum council tax reduction – persons who are not pensioners .................................................................................. 29 19. Periods of absence from a dwelling .................................................. 30 19A. Transitional provision for periods of absence from a dwelling ........ 33 PART 5 .......................................................................................................... 35 3 20. Classes of person excluded from this scheme .................................. 35 21. Class of person excluded from this scheme: persons treated as not being in Great Britain .............................................................................. 35 22. Class of person excluded from this scheme: persons subject to immigration control ................................................................................. 36 23. Class of person excluded from this scheme: capital limit .................. 36 24. Class of person excluded from this scheme: students ...................... 36 PART 6 .......................................................................................................... 37 Applicable amounts ............................................................................................. 37 25. Applicable amounts: pensioners ....................................................... 37 26. Applicable amounts: persons who are not pensioners ...................... 37 27. Polygamous marriages: persons who are not pensioners ................ 38 28. Applicable amount: persons who are not pensioners who have an award of universal credit ......................................................................... 38 PART 6A ....................................................................................................... 40 28A. Transitional provisions for restrictions on amounts for children and young persons: pensioners ..................................................................... 40 PART 7 .......................................................................................................... 42 Maximum council tax reduction for the purposes of calculating eligibility for a reduction under this scheme and amount of reduction......................................... 42 29. Maximum council tax reduction amount under this scheme: pensioners and persons who are not pensioners ................................... 42 30. Non-dependant deductions: pensioners and persons who are not pensioners .............................................................................................. 42 PART 8 .......................................................................................................... 44 Alternative maximum council tax reduction for the purposes of calculating eligibility for a reduction under this scheme and amount of reduction ................................ 44 31. Alternative maximum council tax reduction under this scheme: pensioners and persons who are not pensioners ................................... 44 PART 9 .......................................................................................................... 45 Amount of reduction under this scheme .............................................................. 45 32. Amount of reduction under this scheme: Classes A to F .................. 45 PART 10 ........................................................................................................ 46 Income and capital for the purposes of calculating eligibility for a reduction under this scheme and amount of reduction ........................... 46 CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................ 46 Income and capital: general................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Social Security Act 2000
    c i e AT 5 of 2000 SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 2000 Social Security Act 2000 Index c i e SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 2000 Index Section Page 1 Application to the Island of Acts of Parliament etc ................................................... 5 1A Power to make other provision in respect of social security .................................... 6 2 Orders: supplemental provisions ................................................................................. 7 3 Interpretation ................................................................................................................... 7 4 Short title etc .................................................................................................................... 8 SCHEDULE 1 9 ACTS OF PARLIAMENT TO WHICH SECTION 1 APPLIES 9 SCHEDULE 2 11 ENACTMENTS REPEALED OR REVOKED 11 ENDNOTES 13 TABLE OF LEGISLATION HISTORY 13 TABLE OF RENUMBERED PROVISIONS 13 TABLE OF ENDNOTE REFERENCES 13 c AT 5 of 2000 Page 3 Social Security Act 2000 Section 1 c i e SOCIAL SECURITY ACT 2000 Received Royal Assent: 2 March 2000 Passed: 21 March 2000 Commenced: 21 March 2000 AN ACT to provide for the application to the Island of certain Acts of Parliament and statutory instruments relating to social security; and for connected purposes. 1 Application to the Island of Acts of Parliament etc (1) The Treasury may by order apply to the Island as part of the law of the Island, subject to such exceptions, adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the order, any legislation of the United Kingdom to which this
    [Show full text]
  • Welfare Reform Bill
    Welfare Reform Bill [AS AMENDED IN PUBLIC BILL COMMITTEE] CONTENTS PART 1 UNIVERSAL CREDIT CHAPTER 1 ENTITLEMENT AND AWARDS Introductory 1 Universal credit 2Claims Entitlement 3 Entitlement 4 Basic conditions 5 Financial conditions 6 Restrictions on entitlement Awards 7 Basis of awards 8 Calculation of awards Elements of an award 9 Standard allowance 10 Responsibility for children and young persons 11 Housing costs 12 Other particular needs or circumstances Bill 197 55/1 ii Welfare Reform Bill CHAPTER 2 CLAIMANT RESPONSIBILITIES Introductory 13 Work-related requirements: introductory 14 Claimant commitment Work-related requirements 15 Work-focused interview requirement 16 Work preparation requirement 17 Work search requirement 18 Work availability requirement Application of work-related requirements 19 Claimants subject to no work-related requirements 20 Claimants subject to work-focused interview requirement only 21 Claimants subject to work preparation requirement 22 Claimants subject to all work-related requirements Work-related requirements: supplementary 23 Connected requirements 24 Imposition of requirements 25 Compliance with requirements Reduction of benefit 26 Higher-level sanctions 27 Other sanctions 28 Hardship payments Administration 29 Delegation and contracting out 30 Regulations: piloting CHAPTER 3 SUPPLEMENTARY AND GENERAL Supplementary and consequential 31 Supplementary regulation-making powers 32 Supplementary and consequential amendments 33 Power to make supplementary and consequential provision etc Universal credit
    [Show full text]
  • House of Lords Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform
    (DPRR/10-12/68) House of Lords Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Welfare Reform Bill, as brought from the House of Commons on 16 June 2011 Memorandum from the Department for Work and Pensions Introduction 1. This memorandum identifies the provisions for delegated legislation in the Welfare Reform Bill introduced on 16 February 2011. It explains the purpose of the powers, the reason why they are left to delegated legislation and the procedure selected for the powers and why it has been chosen. 2. The Coalition Government wishes to reform the benefits system to make it fairer, more affordable and better-able to tackle poverty and reliance on welfare. The Government wants to make the benefits system simpler and more efficient, with fewer benefits, fewer layers of bureaucracy and with financial support firmly focused on making work pay. 3. In July 2010 the Department published 21st Century Welfare (Cm 7913), a consultative paper that laid out the problems of poor work incentives and complexity in the benefits and tax credit systems, and set out the key principles for reform. 4. One of the main proposals in the paper was for universal credit, which would incorporate out-of-work benefits, in-work support and appropriate amounts for housing, disability and families, for people of working age. A key aim of universal credit is to ensure that anyone on benefits who starts work will be better off as a result. Another key objective is to make universal credit simple to administer and simple to understand. 5. On 11 November 2010, the Department published a White Paper “Universal credit: welfare that works”, setting out the Government‟s plans to introduce universal credit.
    [Show full text]
  • Welfare Reform Bill
    Welfare Reform Bill EXPLANATORY NOTES Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department for Work and Pensions, are published separately as Billl 154—EN. EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998: In my view the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill are compatible with the Convention rights. Bill 154 55/1 Welfare Reform Bill CONTENTS PART 1 UNIVERSAL CREDIT CHAPTER 1 ENTITLEMENT AND AWARDS Introductory 1 Universal credit 2Claims Entitlement 3 Entitlement 4 Basic conditions 5 Financial conditions 6 Restrictions on entitlement Awards 7 Basis of awards 8 Calculation of awards Elements of an award 9 Standard allowance 10 Responsibility for children and young persons 11 Housing costs 12 Other particular needs or circumstances Bill 154 55/1 ii Welfare Reform Bill CHAPTER 2 CLAIMANT RESPONSIBILITIES Introductory 13 Work-related requirements: introductory 14 Claimant commitment Work-related requirements 15 Work-focused interview requirement 16 Work preparation requirement 17 Work search requirement 18 Work availability requirement Application of work-related requirements 19 Claimants subject to no work-related requirements 20 Claimants subject to work-focused interview requirement only 21 Claimants subject to work preparation requirement 22 Claimants subject to all work-related requirements Work-related requirements: supplementary 23 Connected requirements 24 Imposition of requirements 25 Compliance with requirements Reduction of
    [Show full text]
  • Implementation of the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living
    House of Lords House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights Implementation of the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living Twenty–third Report of Session 2010–12 Report, together with formal minutes Ordered by the House of Lords to be printed 6 February 2012 Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 6 February 2012 HL Paper 257 HC 1074 Published on 1 March 2012 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 Joint Committee on Human Rights The Joint Committee on Human Rights is appointed by the House of Lords and the House of Commons to consider matters relating to human rights in the United Kingdom (but excluding consideration of individual cases); proposals for remedial orders, draft remedial orders and remedial orders. The Joint Committee has a maximum of six Members appointed by each House, of whom the quorum for any formal proceedings is two from each House. Current membership HOUSE OF LORDS HOUSE OF COMMONS Baroness Berridge (Conservative) Dr Hywel Francis MP (Labour, Aberavon) (Chairman) Lord Bowness (Conservative) Rehman Chishsti MP (Conservative, Gillingham and Rainham) Baroness Campbell of Surbiton (Crossbench) Mike Crockart MP (Liberal Democrat, Edinburgh West) Lord Dubs (Labour) Mr Dominic Raab MP (Conservative, Esher and Walton) Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat) Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Labour, Ealing Southall) Lord Morris of Handsworth (Labour) Mr Richard Shepherd MP (Conservative, Aldridge-Brownhills) Powers The Committee has the power to require the submission of written evidence and documents, to examine witnesses, to meet at any time (except when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved), to adjourn from place to place, to appoint specialist advisers, and to make Reports to both Houses.
    [Show full text]
  • Liberty and JUSTICE Report Stage Briefing on the Terror Asset-Freezing Etc Bill in the House of Commons
    Liberty and JUSTICE Report Stage Briefing on the Terror Asset-Freezing Etc Bill in the House of Commons December 2010 About Liberty Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) is one of the UK’s leading civil liberties and human rights organisations. Liberty works to promote human rights and protect civil liberties through a combination of test case litigation, lobbying, campaigning and research. Liberty Policy Liberty provides policy responses to Government consultations on all issues which have implications for human rights and civil liberties. We also submit evidence to Select Committees, Inquiries and other policy fora, and undertake independent, funded research. Liberty’s policy papers are available at http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/publications/1-policy-papers/index.shtml About JUSTICE Founded in 1957, JUSTICE is a UK-based human rights and law reform organisation. It furthers its mission to advance justice, human rights and the rule of law by a number of means, including parliamentary briefings, reports, conferences and third party interventions in the courts. It is the British section of the International Commission of Jurists. JUSTICE’s policy papers are available at: http://www.justice.org.uk/inthenews/index.html Contact Dr Eric Metcalfe Isabella Sankey Director of Human Rights Policy Director of Policy JUSTICE Liberty Direct Line: 020 7762 6415 Direct Line 020 7378 5254 Emai: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2 Introduction and summary 1. The Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc Bill gives the Treasury the power to freeze the assets of any person it reasonably believes or suspects is or has been involved in terrorist activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Explanatory Notes to Welfare Reform Act 2012
    These notes refer to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c.5) which received Royal Assent on 8 March 2012 WELFARE REFORM ACT 2012 EXPLANATORY NOTES INTRODUCTION 1. These Explanatory Notes relate to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which received Royal Assent on 8 March 2012. They have been prepared by the Department for Work and Pensions in order to assist the reader in understanding the Act. They do not form part of the Act and have not been endorsed by Parliament. 2. The Notes need to be read in conjunction with the Act. They are not, and are not meant to be, a comprehensive description of the Act. So where a section or part of a section does not seem to require any explanation or comment, none is given. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 3. In July 2010 the Government published a consultation document 21st Century Welfare (Cm 7913). This set out a range of options for reform of the welfare system. Over 1600 responses were received, from external organisations, individual members of the public and Department for Work and Pensions staff. At the end of the consultation period, in November 2010, a White Paper Universal Credit: welfare that works (Cm 7957) was published, alongside the Government’s responses to the consultation (Consultation responses to 21st Century Welfare (Cm 7971)). The White Paper set out the Government’s proposals for welfare reform, which aim to improve work incentives, simplify the benefits system and make it less costly to administer. Not all the measures in the White Paper will require primary legislation, but this Act gives effect to those proposals that do.
    [Show full text]
  • Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999
    Status: This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective. Changes to legislation: There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 1999 CHAPTER 30 An Act to make provision about pensions and social security; to make provision for reducing under-occupation of dwellings by housing benefit claimants; to authorise certain expenditure by the Secretary of State having responsibility for social security; and for connected purposes. [11th November 1999] Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:— Modifications etc. (not altering text) C1 Act: transfer of functions (6.4.2005) by Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35), ss. 7(1)(c), 322(1) (with s. 313); S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(7), Sch. Pt. 7 C2 Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/875), regs. 1(2), 16, Sch. 2 (which amending S.I. was revoked (27.8.2010) by SI 2010/1906, reg. 2) C3 Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No.
    [Show full text]
  • WELFARE REFORM ACT 2009 (C
    WELFARE REFORM ACT 2009 (c. 24) Welfare Reform Act 2009 CHAPTER 24 CONTENTS PART I SOCIAL SECURITY “Work for your benefit” schemes etc. 1. Schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc. Revised system of working-age benefits 2. Work-related activity: income support claimants and partners of claimants 3. Lone parents 4. Entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance without seeking employment etc. 5. Couples where at least one member capable of work 6. Statutory sick pay and employment and support allowance 7. Transitional provision relating to sections 4 to 6 8. Parliamentary procedure: regulations imposing work-related activity requirements on lone parents of children under 7. Abolition of income support 9. Abolition of income support. Work-related activity for claimants of employment and support allowance 10. Power to direct claimant to undertake specific work-related activity. Jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance: drugs 11. Claimants dependent on drugs etc. Contributory jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance 12. Conditions for contributory jobseeker’s allowance 13. Conditions for contributory employment and support allowance. Disability living allowance 14. Mobility component. Supplement No. 93 [Dec 2010] The Law Relating to Social Security 2.7651 WELFARE REFORM ACT 2009 (c. 24) Abolition of adult dependency increases 15. Maternity allowance and carer’s allowance. External provider social loans and community care grants 16. External provider social loans 17. Power to restrict availability of social fund loans 18. Supply of information to or by lenders making external provider social loans 19. Community care grants relating to specified goods or services 20.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Scrutiny: Welfare Reform Bill
    House of Lords House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights Legislative Scrutiny: Welfare Reform Bill Twenty-first Report of Session 2010–12 Drawing special attention to: Welfare Reform Bill HL Paper 233 HC 1704 House of Lords House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights Legislative Scrutiny: Welfare Reform Bill Twenty-first Report of Session 2010–12 Report, together with formal minutes and appendices Ordered by The House of Lords to be printed 6 December 2011 Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 6 December 2011 HL Paper 233 HC 1704 Published on 12 December 2011 by authority of the House of Lords and the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 Joint Committee on Human Rights The Joint Committee on Human Rights is appointed by the House of Lords and the House of Commons to consider matters relating to human rights in the United Kingdom (but excluding consideration of individual cases); proposals for remedial orders, draft remedial orders and remedial orders. The Joint Committee has a maximum of six Members appointed by each House, of whom the quorum for any formal proceedings is two from each House. Current membership HOUSE OF LORDS HOUSE OF COMMONS Baroness Berridge (Conservative) Dr Hywel Francis MP (Labour, Aberavon) (Chairman) Lord Bowness (Conservative) Rehman Chishsti MP (Conservative, Gillingham and Rainham) Baroness Campbell of Surbiton (Crossbench) Mike Crockart MP (Liberal Democrat, Edinburgh West) Lord Dubs (Labour) Mr Dominic Raab MP (Conservative, Esher and Walton) Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat) Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Labour, Ealing Southall) Lord Morris of Handsworth (Labour) Mr Richard Shepherd MP (Conservative, Aldridge-Brownhills) Powers The Committee has the power to require the submission of written evidence and documents, to examine witnesses, to meet at any time (except when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved), to adjourn from place to place, to appoint specialist advisers, and to make Reports to both Houses.
    [Show full text]
  • UNCRC: How Legislation Underpins Implementation in England
    The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: How legislation underpins implementation in England Further information for the Joint Committee on Human Rights March 2010 Work in progress CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................. 8 1. GENERAL MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION .................................. 15 GENERAL OVERVIEW .............................................................................. 15 ARTICLE 4 – Steps to Implement .............................................................. 16 ARTICLE 42 – Making the Convention Widely Known ............................... 17 ARTICLE 44(6) – Making Reports Widely Available ................................... 19 2. DEFINITION OF THE CHILD ................................................................. 20 GENERAL OVERVIEW .............................................................................. 20 ARTICLE 1 – Definition of the Child ........................................................... 20 3. GENERAL PRINCIPLES ........................................................................ 21 GENERAL OVERVIEW .............................................................................. 21 ARTICLE 2 – Non-discrimination ................................................................ 23 ARTICLE 3 – Best Interests of the Child .................................................... 25 ARTICLE 6 – Child’s
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015
    HOUSE OF LORDS Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee 16th Report of Session 2015‒16 Draft Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 Includes 3 Information Paragraphs on 3 Instruments Ordered to be printed 1 December 2015 and published 2 December 2015 Published by the Authority of the House of Lords HL Paper 63 Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (formerly Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee) Historical Note In January 2000, the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords said that there was a good case for enhanced Parliamentary scrutiny of secondary legislation and recommended establishing a “sifting” mechanism to identify those statutory instruments which merited further debate or consideration. The Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee was set up on 17 December 2003. At the start of the 2012–13 Session the Committee was renamed to reflect the widening of its responsibilities to include the scrutiny of Orders laid under the Public Bodies Act 2011. The Committee has the following terms of reference: (1) The Committee shall, with the exception of those instruments in paragraphs (3) and (4), scrutinise— (a) every instrument (whether or not a statutory instrument), or draft of an instrument, which is laid before each House of Parliament and upon which proceedings may be, or might have been, taken in either House of Parliament under an Act of Parliament; (b) every proposal which is in the form of a draft of such an instrument and is laid before each House of Parliament under an Act of Parliament, with a view to determining whether or not the special attention of the House should be drawn to it on any of the grounds specified in paragraph (2).
    [Show full text]