§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what sum will be expended on disregarding war pensions when calculating income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement; [99384]
(2) what sum was expended on disregarding war pensions when calculating income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales over each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.[99386]
§ Mr. BayleyInformation is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.
The table shows the amounts expended by each local authority in England and Wales, within their own discretionary schemes, when disregarding war pensions in the calculation of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99, which is the latest information available. These amounts are funded from an authority's own resources.
In addition to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit expenditure by local authorities on discretionary schemes, there is further central Government expenditure on statutory disregards in Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Details of this expenditure are not available for each individual authority and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what level of disregard is offered for claimants in receipt of war disablement or war widows pensions against income-related benefits for each local authority in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [99385]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.