HC Deb 29 March 2004 vol 419 cc1267-8W
Matthew Green

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions he has rejected a local authority's application to introduce a houses in multiple occupation control registration scheme which did not comply with the model scheme requirements. [162717]

Keith Hill

Following the 1999 consultation paper on the Government's proposal for licensing of houses in multiple occupation the Department agreed a number of variations that could be made to the model scheme to reflect its proposals for licensing of HMOs. No applications have been received which do not conform to the variations and accordingly no schemes have been refused.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the safety net on losses on benefit subsidy is for Harrogate borough council in financial year 2004–05. [163039]

Mr. Pond

I have been asked to reply.

The information is not available.

Under the new system it is not possible to predict exactly how much local authorities will receive in housing benefit/council tax benefit subsidy. There are a number of variables that will determine the outcome and these will not be known until the end of 2004–05. However, if a local authority's final housing benefit/ council tax benefit subsidy for 2004–05 shows it to be disadvantaged by more than 0.5 per cent. of the amount they would otherwise have received under the previous system, its loss in that year would be limited to 0.5 per cent.