§ 34. Mr. Geraint HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he plans to increase housing benefit in real terms in the next financial year.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe uprating of housing benefit and community charge benefit personal allowances and premiums takes effect in April 1990. Certain premiums are being increased above the amount required to maintain their value in real terms: these are the family premium, the disabled child premium and the lone parent premium. In October the lone parent's earnings disregard is to increase from £15 to £25, and a carer's premium is being introduced.
§ Mr. William PowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish for each local authority area in Northamptonshire, the number of people presently receiving housing benefit and income support together with housing benefit; and what are the costs involved.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is in the table.
Housing Benefit: Estimated recipients and benefit expenditure Local authority Housing benefit only Numbers Housing benefit and Income support Numbers Local authority estimated cost £ million Corby 1,834 2,500 4.5 Daventry 1,804 1,539 2.8 East Northampton 1,981 2,128 2.9 Kettering 2,989 2,904 4.6 Northampton 6,668 7,978 15.4 South Northants 1,896 1,392 2.3 Wellingborough 2,295 3,172 4.7 Note: Expenditure information is not available by recipient group.
Source: Local authority caseload returns November 1988-August 1989 and 1989–90 expenditure estimates.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of households and persons in the London borough of Lambeth claiming housing benefit and rate relief in 1988 and in 1989.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardInformation about the number of households or persons claiming housing benefit is not available. However, the estimated number of households receiving housing benefit is in the table.
1988 1989 Assistance with rent only 1,538 1,492 Assistance with rates only 1,363 1,852 Assistance with both rent and rates 26,836 26,275 All housing benefit 29,737 29,619 Source: Local authority complete caseload return November 1988; partial return May 1989 supplemented by estimates.