§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioner households lost all housing benefit as a result of the changes which came into effect in November 1985; and, of these, how many were tenants and how many owner-occupiers.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average delay between claiming, and receiving the first payment of, housing benefit for each year since the system was introduced.
§ Mr. MajorResponsibility for the administration of the housing benefit scheme rests with the individual local authorities. Information about the speed with which claims are processed is not collected centrally.