§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help his Department (a) is prepared to give
(a) Standard housing benefit/rent rebates and allowances Great Britain London (GLC area) Numbers (thousands) Expenditure (£ million) Numbers (thousands) Average Weekly Amount (£) 1978–79 1,410 245 149 3.91 1979–80 1,400 278 169 4.39 1980–81 1,545 365 138 5.17 1981–82 1,805 554 183 6.75 1982–83 1,920 667 228 7.68 1983–84 Estimated 2,220 851 Not available
(b) Supplementary benefit housing requirements* or certificated housing benefit. Great Britain London (GLC area) Numbers (thousands) Expenditure (£ million) Numbers (thousands) Average Weekly Amount (£) 1978 2,406 818 345 8.26 1979 2,331 897 339 9.57 1980 2,450 1,216 351 12.11 1981 2,856 1,938 405 17.26 1982† 3,192 2,482 Not available 1983‡ 3,072 2,354 Not available * It is not possible to say what proportion of supplementary benefit in payment is for housing costs. However, the total amount of housing requirements (commonly referred to as 'rent addition') is given. This includes amounts in respect of mortgage interest, rates, rent and other housing expenses such as water charges. It is not possible to estimate reliably the split between rent and rates. † The 1982 data for Great Britain include those local authority cases who began to receive housing benefit at the partial start of the housing benefit scheme in November 1982. ‡ The 1983 data relate to the number of and expenditure on certificated cases (rent rebates and allowances and rate rebates). Unlike earlier years the expenditure figure does not cover amounts allowed for mortgage interest and water charges in the supplementary benefit assessment.