§ 20. Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith (Wealden)What plans he has to review housing benefit. [58386]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Angela Eagle)As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) in 603 response to an earlier question, we are currently reviewing housing benefit with the aim of simplifying and improving its administration.
§ Sir Geoffrey Johnson SmithI am well aware that that review is a review of legislation passed in 1990, but will it also take into account an anomaly known to hon. Members on both sides of the House? Poor council tenants are having to subsidise rent rebates for those who are even less well off. In those circumstances, it is little wonder that my local authority, Wealden district council, has incurred a £2 million bill to help them on their way—money that could be far better spent on investment in housing, repairs and maintenance and better facilities for the disabled.
§ Angela EagleI can confirm that the review is wide-ranging, and is examining a number of aspects of a benefit that is complex and difficult to deliver. Under the previous Government there was a massive shift from subsidy for bricks and mortar to subsidy for rent, via the housing benefit system. It is difficult even to think of reviewing housing benefit without taking housing policy into account: we must consider the two together.