§ 28. Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether those in receipt of housing benefit in areas of high rent levels will have rent covered under his proposals to change the housing benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LyellIn the reformed housing benefit scheme from April 1988 calculation by local authorities of entitlement to housing benefit will be based on the claimant's full rent in all cases except where the amount of rent eligible for benefit is restricted because the authority decides that the rent is unreasonably high. The provision which exists in the present scheme for authorities to operate high rent schemes for certain claimants who pay unavoidably high rents will therefore not be necessary and will be withdrawn when the new housing benefit scheme is introduced.
§ 45. Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the number of households receiving housing benefit.
§ Mr. LyellEstimates of the number of households receiving housing benefit, based on inquiry information which relates to the autumn of 1985, are as follows:
Number Standard housing benefit 3,840,000 Certificated housing benefit 3,310,000 All housing benefit 7,150,000