§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of disregarding the total of war disablement pensions and war widows' pensions for(a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit calculations. [27177]
§ Mr. HealdA broad estimate of the cost of fully disregarding war disablement pensions and war widows' pensions is(a) £45 million in housing benefit and (b) £15 million in council tax benefit.
Notes.
- 1. Estimates are based upon the May 1994 income support quarterly statistical inquiry and the 1991, 1992 and 1993 family expenditure survey uprated to 1996–97 levels.
386 - 2. In compiling these estimates, expenditure has been rounded, wherever appropriate, to the nearest £5 million.
- 3. Estimates are broad order estimates only, due to a lack of comprehensive data.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local authorities wholly disregard war disablement pensions and war widows' pensions for housing benefit and council tax benefit calculations; how many disregard only the mandatory first £10; and how many disregard more than the £10 but not the total amount. [27178]