§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of recipients of housing benefit in each year since 1979 and at the latest date for which this information is available.
§ Mr. MajorThe information requested is in the table, which is broken down into rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates since information is not readily available on the numbers receiving help with both rent and rates.
Housing benefit was not fully introduced until 1983–84. For each year from 1979–80 and 1982–83 inclusive, therefore, the number of local authority tenants, private tenants and all householders in receipt of supplementary benefit has been included in the figures for rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates respectively.
Housing benefit (and supplementary benefit equivalent) caseloads 1979–80 to 1984–85 Great Britain: Thousands Year Rent rebate Rent allowance Rate rebate 1979–80 2,630 690 5,400 1980–81 2,840 710 5,800 1981–82 3,350 800 6,560 1982–83 3,540 860 6,590 1983–84 3,900 1,080 7,520 1984–85 3,810 1,060 7,290 Figures for 1984–85 are provisional and are subject to revision in the light of local authorities' final subsidy claims for that year.