HC Deb 08 March 1989 vol 148 cc572-3W
Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Northern region, by area, are in receipt of transitional protection as a result of the April 1988 changes in housing benefit regulations.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the effect of transitional payments on the living standards of people who were in receipt of housing benefit prior to changes in the regulations in April 1988.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The transitional payments scheme represents a fast and effective response to the problems caused for those in vulnerable groups who would otherwise have suffered too sharp a drop in their housing benefit following the changes last April.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate(a) the total number of people and (b) the number of people in each local authority area who are entitled to claim for housing benefit transitional protection;

(2) how many claims for housing benefit transitional protection had been made by 28 February (a) in total and (b) in each local authority area; and in each case how many were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful;

(3) how many claims for housing benefit transitional protection are currently being considered (a) in total and (b) in each local authority area.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have claimed transitional protection payments; what proportion of those have had their applications approved; and by how much the number receiving these allowances differs from the estimated take-up.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 2 March 1989]: Up to 300,000 people were originally estimated to be eligible for housing benefit transitional payments. Of the 439,129 applications for Housing Benefit transitional payments received at 3 March, a total of 183,783 have been successful. Of the 39,418 applications outstanding 30,487 are awaiting return of inquiry forms from local authorities. Applications will continue to be accepted until 30 June 1989. Information requested is currently available only on a national basis.