HC Deb 27 November 1987 vol 123 cc349-50W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of people and the number of dependants covered thereby claiming housing benefit in 1979 and the latest available date; and if he will distinguish whether these payments are made for tenants in the public sector, the private sector or for payment with rates.

Mr. Portillo

Figures for the number of people receiving housing benefit in the years requested are given in the table. I regret that detailed information is not kept of the number of people who make a claim for housing benefit, nor of the numbers of dependants in claimant households.

1987–88 Charges for Private Resident Patients
Daily charges to patients not paying consultant(s) separately Daily charges to patients paying consultant (s) separately
Single room £ Other accommodation £ Single room £ Other accommodation £
Class A (Long-stay Hospitals) 83 75 78 71
Class B (Psychiatric Hospitals) 70 64 66 60
Class C1 (Mainly Acute and other hospitals in non-teaching districts) 138 125 129 118
Class C2 (Acute and other hospitals in non-teaching districts) 157 142 147 134
Class D (Hospitals in London teaching districts (other than hospitals in Classes A and B) 219 199 205 187
Class E (Hospitals in provincial teaching districts (other than hospitals in Classes A and B) 174 158 164 149
Housing Benefit Recipients: Great Britain
(thousands)
1979–80 1986–87
Rent rebates (for public sector tenants) 1,205 3,745
Rent allowances (for private sector tenants) 220 1,190
Rate rebates 3,065 7,120

Notes

1. Housing benefit was not introduced until 1983. It replaced the former DOE rent rebate, rent allowance and rate rebate schemes, and additionally brought in those who formerly received help for their rent and/or rates through supplementary benefit, who therefore do not appear in the 1979 total.

2. The 1986/87 figures are derived from local authority mid-year subsidy claims and are subject to revision.