§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will outline the effects on local government of changes in the arrangements for payment of housing benefits in 1983–84.
§ Mr. RossiRegulation 31 of the Housing Benefit Regulations 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1124) requires local authorities to pay rent allowances four weekly or calendar monthly, except where a supplementary benefit claimant or any other claimant whose rent allowance is more than £2 per week and whose rent is payable weekly requires them to pay weekly. The effect of these requirements will vary from authority to authority; it will depend on which system of payment was previously used by the authority and the proportion of claimants requesting weekly payment.