§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of the software and other administrative changes that will be necessitated by the provisions of the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1996 in respect of payments four-weekly in arrears. [6131]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe estimated total gross administrative cost to local authorities arising from the introduction of new payment rules for housing and council tax benefit is some £3 million. However, there are offsetting savings for local authorities because we estimate that there will be a reduction in overpayments of benefit as a result of the changes. On-going costs after introduction are expected to be negligible although authorities will continue to benefit from savings arising from overpayments avoided.
§ Mr. WicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of reducing the housing benefit taper for those in work to (i) 60 per cent., (ii) 55 per cent., (iii) 50 per cent., (iv) 45 per cent., (v) 40 per cent., (vi) 35 per cent. and (vii) 30 per cent., and how many people would be entitled to housing benefit in each of these cases. [7185]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is set out in the table.
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Estimated cost of reducing the housing benefit taper for those in work Taper Net cost £ million Housing benefit caseload 65 per cent. — 4,875,000 60 per cent. 70 4,895,000
Estimated cost of reducing the housing benefit taper for those in work Taper Net cost £ million Housing benefit caseload 55 per cent. 160 4,925,000 50 per cent. 265 4,975,000 45 per cent. 390 5,030,000 40 per cent. 545 5,105,000 35 per cent. 740 5,195,000 30 per cent. 980 5,295,000 Notes:
Estimates based on the Family Expenditure Surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefit levels.
Estimates of costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
Estimates of caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000.
Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.