HC Deb 10 February 1987 vol 110 cc145-6
3. Mr. Raynsford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many responses he has had from local authorities to his consultation document on housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Nicholas Lyell)

We have had a number of initial queries and reactions on specific aspects of the detailed proposals issued in the form of draft regulations. Formal comments representing local authority views are submitted by the local authority associations. We have asked for their full responses by 6 March.

Mr. Raynsford

Does the Minister recall that his Department's last attempt to make changes in the housing benefit scheme resulted in what was described as the worst administrative fiasco in the history of the welfare state"? Given the present reservations of all local authority associations about the lack of time to resolve the outstanding issues and the inadequate implementation subsidies, is the hon. and learned Gentleman not worried that the Government seriously risk repeating the disaster that occurred four years ago?

Mr. Lyell

It is precisely to give local authorities time to consider the draft regulations and be prepared that we are consulting now. They will thus have the best part of a full year to prepare themselves before the regulations are in place.

Mr. Marlow

My hon. and learned Friend will be aware of the grotesque scandal of Left-wing local authorities which always have to put up the rates but never seem able to collect rents. Where those rents include an element of housing benefit, and knowing that at some stage the Government will have to bail out those lunatic authorities, will my hon. and learned Friend take action to withhold that Government benefit and keep it for later purposes?

Mr. Lyell

One aspect of the reforms that we are introducing is to enable local authorities to monitor the amount that they are spending, particularly on housing benefit, and provide incentives for them to do so.

Mrs. Beckett

Can the Minister confirm that among the proposals that he has put to authorities is a proposal that the time limits which force people under 26 in board and lodgings to move every few weeks should be abolished? Can he explain why they are needed in 1987 if they will not be needed in 1988?

Mr. Lyell

The new system of income support combined with housing benefit could provide a good framework which would overcome the present difficulties, but part of the system is the careful monitoring of the amount that housing authorities spend on housing benefit and the level of rents which they are prepared to support.

Mr. Meadowcroft

Has the Minister initiated contact with the local authorities and urged them to have rents registered where private landlords are overcharging in the knowledge that the tenants receive housing benefit and thus have no personal interest in registering a fair rent?

Mr. Lyell

Part of the changes will give local authorities greater opportunities to monitor and control the amount of housing benefit which they are prepared to pay if they think that rents in any sector are excessive.