HC Deb 27 April 1998 vol 311 cc55-6W
21. Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has for reform of the housing benefit system. [38500]

25. Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement about her plans for the reform of housing benefit. [38504]

Mr. Keith Bradley

Tackling benefit fraud and encouraging people of working age to work are two important principles of welfare reform. In the immediate term, we are taking steps to tackle Housing Benefit fraud, and the Working Families Tax credit and other changes announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in the Budget will reduce the work disincentive effects caused by the combination of housing benefit and Family Credit.

For the longer term, as the Welfare Reform Green paper made clear, we are reviewing Housing Benefit. The review will consider and seek to address the underlying relationship between housing policy and housing benefit. We aim to develop stable and sustainable policies, in line with the overall objectives of welfare reform, striking a better balance between tenants' right and responsibilities.

26. Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the future role of local authorities in the payment and administration of housing benefit. [38505]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The Welfare Reform Green Paper made clear we are reviewing the underlying relationship between housing policy and housing benefit. We aim to develop stable and sustainable policies, in line with the overall objectives of welfare reform, striking a balance between tenants' rights and responsibilities. We will be aiming to develop a simpler benefit system that will be more easily administered.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the(a) numbers and (b) amounts of rent rebate allowance overpayments and (c) the amount as a percentage of the authority's overall housing benefit expenditure for (i) each district and island council in Scotland, in each available year from 1993–94 and (ii) each unitary authority for 1996–97. [37818]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The information has been placed in the library.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will provide(a) a breakdown of the number of housing benefits claimants, split into rent rebate and rent allowance categories, with the total amounts paid under each heading, (b) the numbers and amounts of housing benefit backdated payments under Regulation 72 (15), and the amount paid as a percentage of each local authority's housing benefit expenditure and (c) the numbers and amounts of discretionary payments under Regulation 69 (8) and the percentage they form of each local authority's total housing benefit expenditure, in the most recent available year. [37823]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available has been placed in the library.