§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each year since its introduction, what has been the gross and net saving from the removal from (a) 16 and 17-year olds, (b) 18 to 20-year olds supplementary benefit non-householders' rent addition; and what would be the cost of reversing these changes in a full year at 1985–86 benefit rates.
§ Mr. Major[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1985, c. 131]Information about the actual savings made as a result of the removal of the supplementary benefit non-householders rent addition for 16–20 year olds is not available.
507WThe estimated gross and net costs of reversing the changes at 1985–86 benefit rates are as follows:
Gross Cost to Supplementary Benefit *Gross saving on Housing Benefit Net cost to Supplementary Benefit and Housing Benefit £million £ million £million (a) Restoring the non-householders rent contributions for 16 and 17 years olds 30 10 20 (b) Restoring the non-householders rent contribution for 18 to 20 year olds 60 15 45 * ie overall reduction in housing benefit for householders which would also follow from such a change. The loss to the householder would normally precisely match the non-householder gain.