§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer given by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish, (H.L. Deb., 9 January, WA 15), on what evidence they relied in deciding that the proposed changes to housing benefit for those under 25 should not prevent young people from finding suitably priced accommodation.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)Many young working people rent shared houses and bedsits and the frequency with which these groups change address does not indicate a shortage of this type of accommodation. The Government's proposals would limit housing benefit to the general level of rents payable in any given locality for the sort of non self-contained accommodation that young working people tend to occupy. The Government do not believe that this would prevent those intending to claim housing benefit from finding suitably priced accommodation.