§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of unemployed claimants drawing housing benefit, distinguishing between those drawing supplementary benefit, and thereby being eligible for housing benefit and those on national insurance benefit who also claim housing benefit.
§ Mr. LyellThere are four broad categories of unemployed people receiving housing benefit. The overall numbers and categories requested are best indicated by reference to claimants receiving rate rebates. The estimates of the average number of unemployed people receiving rate rebates are as follows:
Great Britain, 1986–87 Thousands (a) Receiving certificated rate rebate, unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit 160 (b) Receiving certificated rate rebate and supplementary benefit 950 (c) Receiving standard rate rebate and unemployment benefit 100 (d) Receiving standard rate rebate 80 Total 1,290 Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
§ Mr. Raynsfordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from local authorities about the adequacy of his subsidy allocation for preparation costs to be incurred for the introduction of changes to the housing benefit scheme in April 1988.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made with local authorities to inform him of the amount by which owner-occupier claimants miss out on housing benefit supplement so that later claims can take advantage of his arrangements to allow them to escape the mortgage trap.
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§ Mr. MajorSpecial arrangements are not necessary. A condition for receiving housing benefit supplement is that a person has failed to qualify for normal supplementary benefit solely on income grounds. Claimants who are refused supplementary benefit under the normal rules solely because of the mortgage interest limitation are advised to claim again after 16 weeks, whether or not they receive housing benefit supplement.
§ Mr. Raynsfordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in the light of his undertaking to local authorities they would have 12 months to prepare for the introduction of the new housing benefit arrangements effective from April 1988, he has not yet tabled regulations and issued guidance on this subject.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to lay regulations for the 1988 housing benefit reforms.
§ Mr. Major[pursuant to his reply, 10 April 1987, c. 503]: The regulations for the 1988 housing benefit reforms will be laid before Parliament when the Government's proposals on benefit rates are finalised in the autumn. The draft currently contains purely illustrative rates and it is not possible to legislate on the basis of figures which will not be implemented.
We are, however, committed to publishing our firm proposals on the detailed structure of the new scheme as soon as possible, so that local authorities have adequate time to prepare. The local authority associations made a very large number of helpful comments during consultation on the regulations and these are now being considered urgently.
I have informed the associations that the revised regulations will be made available to local authorities in draft around the end of this month. Guidance on the key areas of change will follow shortly after. Copies of the regulations and the guidance will be placed in the Library.