Supplementary Benefit (Hansard, 22 April 1985)

§ Mrs. René Short
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest available figure for the number of households in receipt of supplementary benefit who are subject to payment of fuel direct, where such payment exceeds the amount allowed for fuel bills in their supplementary benefit, including any special additions which such households are claiming to cover fuel costs; what are the figures for the number of such households who are tenants of (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private landlords; what are the figures for the total number of households in receipt of supplementary benefit and who were tenants of (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private landlords; and if he will give these figures for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Wales and Scotland.

§ Mr. Whitney
The information is not available in the form requested.
There is no specific amount for heating or any other item in the supplementary benefit scale rates. It is generally for claimants themselves to decide how to spend their benefit. Heating additions may be given to claimants who need to spend extra on heating but the available information on fuel direct arrangements relates to all such arrangements regardless of whether heating additions are being paid. Table 1 gives the latest available breakdown of fuel direct arrangements, as at December 1982.

TABLE 1

Fuel direct arrangements—December 1982

(thousands)

Great Britain England Scotland Wales

Electricity 120 82 31 7

Gas †69 56 10 4

Other fuels 2 2 ^* —

^* Less than 500.

† Discrepancy due to rounding.

Source: Annual Statistical Inquiry.
Notes:
1. Some claimants have direct payment arrangements in respect of more than one type of fuel so the total number of claimants affected will be less than the total number of arrangements.
2. The figures do not differentiate between direct payment 345W arrangements which cover both arrears and current consumption of fuel and arrangements which cover current consumption only.
3. Separate figures are not available for different types of tenure.
We estimate that we are now administering about 300,000 fuel direct arrangements, but a more detailed breakdown is not available.
Table 2 gives the latest available figures for householders on supplementary benefit, broken down by tenure type, as at December 1982:

TABLE 2

Number of householders on supplementary benefit—December 1982

(thousands)

Great Britain England Scotland Wales

All householders 3,188 2,715 291 182

LA tenants ^*1,976 1,643 225 109

Private tenants 589 522 39 2

Owner occupiers ^*623 550 27 45

^* Discrepancy due to rounding.

Source: Quarterly Statistical Inquiry.
Notes:
1. Excludes rent-free and rates-free cases.
2. Number of housing association tenants is not recorded separately from number of other private tenants.

Mrs. Renée
Short asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest available figures for the number of households in receipt of supplementary benefit who are subject to payment of (i) fuel arrears direct, (ii) rent arrears direct and (iii) both fuel arrears and rent arrears direct as tenants of (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private landlords; what are the figures for the total number of households in receipt of supplementary benefit and who were tenants of (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private landlords at the same date; and if he will give these figures for Great Britain as a whole, for England and Wales and Scotland.

§ Mr. Whitney
For information on payments of fuel arrears direct I refer the hon. Member to my other reply to her today. For rent arrears direct this information is not available in the form requested. The latest available figures are for December 1982, and relate to the position prior to the full introduction of the housing benefit scheme. These figures do not differentiate between the rent arrears direct and rent direct. Separate information is not available for housing association tenants nor for those cases where both fuel arrears and rent arrears are paid direct.

Rent Direct at December 1982

Thousands

Great Britain England Scotland Wales

LA tenants 158 118 33 7

Private tenants †14 11 2 ^*

^* less than 500

†discrepancy due to rounding

TABLE 1
Fuel direct arrangements—December 1982
				(thousands)
	Great Britain	England	Scotland	Wales
Electricity	120	82	31	7
Gas	†69	56	10	4
Other fuels	2	2	^*	—
^* Less than 500.
† Discrepancy due to rounding.

TABLE 2
Number of householders on supplementary benefit—December 1982
				(thousands)
	Great Britain	England	Scotland	Wales
All householders	3,188	2,715	291	182
LA tenants	^*1,976	1,643	225	109
Private tenants	589	522	39	2
Owner occupiers	^*623	550	27	45
^* Discrepancy due to rounding.

Rent Direct at December 1982
	Thousands
	Great Britain	England	Scotland	Wales
LA tenants	158	118	33	7
Private tenants	†14	11	2	^*
^* less than 500
†discrepancy due to rounding