§ Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average housing benefit payments per week in Great Britain in respect of (a) rates, (b) private sector rent and (c) public sector rent;
(2) what is the latest estimate of the number of people receiving assistance under the housing benefit scheme in respect of (a) private sector rents, (b) public sector rents and (c) rates, giving the benefit costs applicable in each of these cases, and the estimated numbers and costs in respect of the changes to take effect in April 1987.
§ Mr. LyellOn the basis of local authority subsidy claims, the latest estimates of the current number of people receiving assistance under the housing benefits scheme, the annual cost and the average amount per beneficiary are as follows:
Kennington (Oval) office and similar work from Peckham will be outstationed to Broadstairs from 18 December 1986. In addition staff have been diverted to this work from other work not connected with the payment of benefit and from the London south regional office.
Camberwell, Peckham, Kennington (Oval) and Kennington park offices have, between them, received an additional 58 staff above the number justified by normal staffing arrangements as their share of the extra 5,000 allocated to local offices this year.
Discussions are continuing between regional management and the welfare benefits resources network about the forthcoming benefits campaign.