§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2000,Official Report, column 467W, on housing benefit fraud, if he will estimate (a) the average payment made to local authorities benefiting from the weekly benefit saving scheme, (b) the average penalty payment made by local authorities under that scheme and (c) the number of local authorities (i) receiving subsidies, (ii) paying penalties and (iii) neither subsidised nor penalised. [145523]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is in the table.
Details of the Weekly Benefit Savings Scheme (WBS) for 1999–2000 Number of local authorities Average payment/penalty for the year 1999/2000 (£) Receiving WBS subsidy 304 54,652 Paying penalty 42 66,088 Neither subsidised nor penalised 63 — Notes:
1. Four local authorities who have been neither subsidised nor penalised still have claims outstanding.
2. The figures in this answer relate to the latest information available and so do not correspond to the table placed in the Library in answer to my Written Answer on 8 January 2001, Official Report, column 467W. An updated table has been placed in the Library.
3. These figures are still subject to final audit.