HC Deb 28 February 1995 vol 255 cc549-50W
Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of housing benefit claimants have changed the address for which they were claiming during each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what proportion of them moved into more expensive properties in each of these years.

Mr. Roger Evans

The information requested is not available.

Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of housing benefit claimants have their rents paid in full for housing benefit; and what the comparable figure was for each year since 1979;

(2) what proportion of new housing benefit claimants had their rents paid in full by housing benefit for each year since 1979.

Mr. Roger Evans

The available information is set out in the table. Data are not available prior to 1989 and no separate records are kept for new housing benefit claimants.

Housing Benefit recipients—proportion who have their rents paid in full by Housing Benefit
Inquiry All HB recipients HB recipients who have their eligible rent paid in full by HB(000s) Proportion who have their eligible rent paid in full by HB(Percentage)
May 1989 3,939 2,302 58
May 1990 3,979 2,290 58
May 1991 4,021 2,315 58
May 1992 4,320 2,725 63
May 1993 4,521 2,941 65

Source:

Housing benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries with and without income support, taken at the end of May for each year.

Notes:

1. The numbers given refer to the number of benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

2. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand and the percentages to the nearest whole percent.

3. Information on actual rent is not available, therefore the data given relates to rent eligible for HB.

Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has undertaken on the effect of the changes to the eligible amount of rent for housing benefit purposes announced in the December 1994 Budget on the willingness of private landlords and potential private landlords to let properties.

Mr. Roger Evans

No specific research on the impact on landlords of the proposed housing benefit changes has been undertaken. However, the Department of the Environment has been undertaking more general research into the motives, experience and future intentions of landlords. Both Departments will be monitoring closely the impact of the proposed changes on both landlords and tenants through on-going research surveys and specific studies as necessary.