§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost of housing benefits in Northern Ireland for the current year and the previous five years.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe total cost, excluding help with housing costs through the supplementary benefit scheme, in 1983–84 is estimated at £45.8 million. Corresponding figures for the previous five years were as follows:
£ million 1982–83 20.4 1981–82 14.7 1980–81 7.8 1979–80 5.2 1978–79 4.6