§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) pensioner households, (b) families with children and (c) other households, who are tenants of (i) local authorities and new towns, (ii) housing associations and (iii) other landlords, are estimated to be receiving (1) maximum housing benefit with no deductions for non-dependants, (2) maximum housing benefit but with deductions for non-dependants and (3) a lesser amount of housing benefit towards their rent payments (x) currently and (y) since May 1989 in Great Britain as a whole and in each region for which figures are available; and what proportion of the total number of tenants in each category they represent.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe available estimates for May 1989 are set out in the table. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) on 3 February at column96 for the May 1990 estimates.
authorities, which have statutory responsibility for administering the scheme, consider the increase is reasonable. In deciding whether a rent increase is reasonable, authorities are expected to have regard to the nature and extent of any improvements made to the dwelling.