§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unitary authorities are failing to make the first payment of housing benefit within 14 days of the completed forms. [30971]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not yet available.
Apart from the Isle of Wight, which commenced unitary status in April 1995, no other new unitary authorities commenced operations before April 1996. The most recent information available centrally is for 1994–95.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total sum paid out in any readily available period of housing benefit on account. [30973]
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many visits his officials have made to unitary authorities to monitor the payment of housing benefit. [30969]
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local authorities are making payments on account of housing benefit. [30972]
§ Mr. EvansThis information is not collected centrally. Regulations provide that all local authorities shall make payments on account when appropriate.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the sums paid on account of housing benefit for each authority and the average delay in completing the formal claims and estimate for each authority at the latest available date. [30974]
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to instruct his officials to visit unitary authorities to monitor the payments of housing benefit. [30970]
§ Mr. EvansNone. However, the need to visit new unitary authorities will be taken into account when planning future visits.