§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment has been made by his Department of the cost to the housing benefit budget of the deregulation of private rents and reduction in housing association grants.
§ Mr. BurtNone. The impact of the deregulation of private rents and reduction in housing association grants are only two of the many factors which influence the level of housing benefit expenditure. It is therefore not possible to make a reliable estimate of the effect on housing benefit expenditure which could be attributed to these measures alone.