§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the effect on housing benefit expenditure will be if social rents in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK were reduced by (i) 5 per cent. (ii) 10 per cent. and (iii) 15 per cent. [119978]
§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
Estimated savings in Housing Benefit expenditure1 for percentagereductions in social rents2 at 2000–01 prices3 £ million 5 per cent. 10 per cent. 15 per cent. Scotland 40 90 130 Great Britain 420 830 1,240 1 Estimates relate to gross Housing Benefit expenditure (the amounts actually paid to claimants) in respect of the current financial year 2000–01 2 Social' rents are taken to refer to Local Authority and Registered Social Landlords 3 Estimated results are based on a combination of information from the Family Resources Survey 1997–98, uprated to 2000–01 prices and benefit levels, along with the forecasts underlying the Departmental Report 2000. Notes:
- 1. The information relates to Scotland and Great Britain. The Department forecasts only apply to Great Britain, therefore it has not been possible to supply corresponding data for the UK.
- 2. Figures are rounded to £10 million