§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy on extending exemption from the restrictions to housing benefit from October to all young people who have been looked after by local authorities and to whom local authorities have a duty to provide a service up to the age of at least 21 years, pursuant to section 24 of the Children Act 1989; and if he will make a statement. [27047]
§ Mr. Roger EvansIt would be unreasonable to expect the taxpayer to subsidise rents which are above those for the sort of accommodation which single young people expect to occupy where they meet rent from their own resources merely because a social service department owes duties under the Children Act. The arrangement whereby people aged under 22, who were previously subject to a care order, will be exempt from some housing benefit changes to be introduced in October, is a concession which recognises the particular vulnerability of young people for whom a court considers it necessary 481W for a social service department to assume parental responsibility. Other young people will not be affected by the new arrangements if they live in exempt accommodation, including that provided by a housing association, voluntary body or registered charity where care, support or supervision is provided to the tenant by, or on behalf of, the landlord.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice he will give on obtaining housing for young people in housing need in Gloucestershire after the introduction of restrictions to housing benefit in October 1996; and if he will make a statement. [27043]
§ Mr. EvansHousing benefit will remain available to help young single people in Gloucestershire and elsewhere meet the general level of rents for the sort of accommodation which they tend to occupy if they meet rent from their own resources. It would be unreasonable to expect the taxpayer to subsidise rents above this level. Young people will have access to a pre-tenancy determination to indicate the likely level of rent which would be used to assess benefit.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people aged at least 15 years, who were looked after by Gloucestershire's social services department in March 1996 but who were not subject to a care order, pursuant to section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989, will not be exempt from the housing benefit restrictions for young people from October 1996, if they remain in the care system through and beyond their 16th birthdays; and if he will make a statement. [27045]
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of young people in Gloucestershire who will be in housing need in the county in the year following the introduction of restrictions to housing benefit in October 1996; and if he will make a statement. [27044]
§ Mr. EvansThe October 1996 housing benefit rules for single young people should not lead to housing need. Housing benefit will remain payable after that date based on rent levels for the sort of dwellings which young single people tend to occupy if they meet rent from their own resources. Local authorities will have discretion, and some additional funding, to pay higher levels of benefit to prevent exceptional hardship in individual cases.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy on exemption from the restrictions to housing benefit from October 1996 for those young people in contact with Barnados leaving care project in Gloucestershire, while looked after by Gloucestershire's social services department(a) who are subject to care orders under section 31(1) (a) of the Children Act 1989, and towards whom the local authority maintains duties until at least their 21st birthday, pursuant to section 24 of the said Act and (b) who are not subject to such care orders, but towards whom the local authority maintains duties until at least their 21st birthday; and if he will make a statement. [27046]
§ Mr. EvansYoung people who are "looked after" by social services departments cannot receive housing benefit if the terms by which they are provided with482W accommodation under the Children Act means that they cannot be liable to pay for it. Guidance covering this area will be issued shortly.
Children who cease to be "looked after" may be entitled to housing benefit if they become liable to pay for their dwelling. It would be unreasonable to expect the taxpayer to subsidise rents for single young people which are above the level for the sort of accommodation which they expect to occupy where they meet rent from their own resources simply because they were previously looked after, or assisted by, a social services department. The concession whereby people aged under 22 who were previously subject to a care order will be exempt from some housing benefit changes to be introduced in October recognises the particular vulnerability of young people for whom a court considers it necessary for a social services department to assume parental responsibility. Other young people will not be affected by the new arrangements if they live in exempt accommodation, including that provided by a housing association, voluntary body or registered charity where care, support or supervision is provided to the tenant by, or on behalf of, the landlord.