§ 56. Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any evidence of abuse of the housing benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorThe housing benefits review indicated that there was little hard information about the nature and extent of abuse of the housing benefits scheme, but expressed concern about the potential for abuse by both claimants and landlords. This concern has also been voiced by others, including individual local authorities and the Audit Commission. The Green Paper, Reform of Social Security (Cmnd. 9518) included proposals for strengthening safeguards against abuse of the scheme.