HC Deb 13 July 1993 vol 228 cc475-7W
Mr. Whittingdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will define the circumstances in which a recipient of housing benefit is entitled to a special personal allowance as a result of being legally married to more than one partner, as specified in the "Guide to Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit", booklet RR2.

Mr. Burt

A recipient of housing benefit is entitled to a special personal allowance if he is a member of a valid polygamous marriage and has more than one of his partners sharing his household.

Mrs. Golding

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of reducing the housing benefit taper from 65 per cent. to 50 per cent.

Mr. Burt

The cost is estimated to be £500 million per annum.*

Note:

*This estimate is based on data drawn from the 1989–90–91 Family Expenditure Surveys and modelled at 1993–94 prices and benefit levels.

Mr. Whittingdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of housing benefit receive a special personal allowance as a result of being legally married to more than one partner as specified in the "Guide to Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit", booklet RR2.

Mr. Burt

The information is not available.

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will explain the basis on which students are excluded from housing benefit; and what provision is made to enable students unable to find paid employment during the vacations to pay the continued costs of housing.

Mr. Burt

In general it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for students, not the social security system, and we have no plans to change this. Housing benefit is available during the summer vacation and also throughout the course to vulnerable students such as lone parents, those who are disabled, and those with dependent children. In addition non-student partners can claim on behalf of the couple if they satisfy the normal qualifying conditions. The Government have increased the full-year support available from the education grant and from student loans by nearly 40 per cent. compared with the support available from the grant alone in 1989. Students in particular financial need may seek help from the access funds.