§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the method of introduction of housing benefit in Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiAs regards the work of this Department's local offices, I regret that there have been some difficulties and delays as a result of the recent industrial action, but I am satisfied that these are being resolved without detriment to claimants. The administration of housing benefit is, by law, the responsibility of individual authorities. It would not be appropriate for me to make a statement on the way in which individual authorities handled the take-on of cases.