§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of extending housing benefit, on its present scale rates, to owner occupiers.
§ Mr. WhitneyI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners in Scotland (a) householders and (b) non-householders were lifted off housing benefit supplement after 26 November 1984 as a result of (i) increasing the available scale margin and (ii) extending the available scale margin to heating additions.
§ Mr. WhitneyHousing benefit supplement is not payable to non-householders. Information on the small number of pensioner householders in Scotland who would have been lifted off housing benefit supplement as a result of changes to the available scale margin is not available.