Housing Benefits (Hansard, 28 January 1992)

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide for each district and islands council in Scotland for each available year starting from 1985–86(a) a breakdown of the numbers of housing benefit claimants split into rent rebate and rent allowance categories and the total amounts paid under each heading, (b) the numbers and amounts of housing benefit backdated payments—regulation 72(15)—and the amount paid as a percentage of each local authority's housing benefit expenditure, (c) the numbers, amounts and percentage of amount in relation to total housing benefit expenditure in relation to discretionary payments—regulations 69(8)—and (d) a breakdown of the categories 518W of housing benefit over-payments and details of the numbers in each category, giving the amounts in each category and the amount as a percentage of housing benefit expenditure.

§ Miss Widdecombe
Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the performance of local authorities in relation to the incentive areas in housing benefit.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The incentive arrangements are designed to encourage prudent behaviour by local authorities in the administration of housing benefit arid community charge benefit. A lower subsidy is paid to local authorities if they incur benefit expenditure in circumstances in which they have most scope to control costs.

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the rule under which housing benefit to single people is reduced because of the housing benefit downrating rule after they have been in hospital for six weeks.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The majority of people are discharged from hospital within six weeks, and consequently housing benefit is not affected. For single people remaining in hospital beyond six weeks, housing benefit is calculated on the basis of a lower personal allowance. However, where someone continues to receive income support their housing benefit entitlement is unchanged and, overall, the system helps to ensure that claimants have sufficient income over and above the amount of their personal allowance to meet their eligible rent. These rules recognise the principle that the national health service provides free maintenance as well as free treatment for hospital in-patients, and that public funds should not make double provision for the same needs.