HL Deb 18 March 2002 vol 632 cc121-2WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have yet reached a decision regarding the different calculation of housing benefit on gypsy sites and by county councils on the one hand, and district and unitary authorities on the other; and whether they will reimburse county councls for the losses of revenue they have sustained by reason of their inability to collect the differences between the economic charges made to residents, and the amounts they are entitled to claim in housing benefit. [HL3073]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

We are looking at the housing benefit rules for people living on travellers' sites. Any proposals for change will be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations in the normal way.