Mr. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual cost of housing benefit for claimants in Lambeth; and what is the cost of administering the scheme.
§ Dr. BoysonEstimates from the London borough of Lambeth suggest that the annual cost of housing benefit is about £43 million and the cost of administering the scheme about £1.5 million. Both estimates are provisional and subject to scrutiny by this Department.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff are employed by his Department centrally in connection with the housing benefit scheme; and what are their grades and annual salaries.
§ Dr. BoysonThe following staff are employed centrally by the Department in connection with the housing benefit scheme:
Number Assistant Secretary 1 Principal 4½ Senior Executive Officer 1½ Higher Executive Officer 10 Executive Officer 7 Clerical Officer 5 Clerical Assistant 1 Latest details of salary scales are contained in the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, a copy of which is in the Library.
The list does not include staff in the open structure and in specialist grades, such as economists and lawyers, who spend part of their time on housing benefit work.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households will receive less housing benefit in April on the basis of the revised proposals than they would have done on the basis of the original proposals, taking into account the decision to postpone the increase in the children's needs allowance.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret that a reliable estimate is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families will be affected by the 824W decision not to increase the housing benefit children's needs allowance in April; and in respect of how many children.
§ Dr. BoysonAbout 700,000 families, and in respect of about 1.4 million children.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in respect of how many non-dependants receiving (a) invalidity pension and (b) non-contributory invalidity pensions deductions are made from housing benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants on certificated housing benefit have non-dependant deductions; and how many are pensioners.
§ Dr. Boyson[pursuant to his reply, Monday 6 February 1984, c. 502]: We estimate that there are about 400,000 supplementary benefit claimants on certificated housing benefit with non-dependant deductions; of these about 190,000 are pensioners.