§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households will be affected by restricting council tax benefit so that claimants with property in bands F, G and H, have their council tax benefit restricted to that of band E; what is the average amount of council tax benefit that will be withdrawn; and what will be the savings in the first year arising from these changes. [7746]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe estimate that 30,000 pensioners will be affected by this measure which was left over from the previous administration.
87WThe total number affected is estimated to be 65,000. The average amount of council tax benefit withdrawn will be £3.80 a week. The estimated savings in the first year are £15 million.