§ Mr. Jayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of furnished rent allowances granted since the introduction of this scheme to those receiving, and those not receiving, supplementary benefit, respectively.
§ Mr. ChannonThe information requested in respect of tenants of furnished accommodation not in receipt of supplementary benefit is not yet available. Tenants of furnished accommodation in receipt of supplementary benefit are not normally eligible for separate rent allowances but have their rents included in the assessment of their requirements for supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Jayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has investigated the operation in practice of the furnished rent allowance scheme for tenants occupying small dwellings such as bedsitters or flatlets, in view of the fact that the proxy rent used in these cases may be only a fraction of the rent actually paid.
§ Mr. ChannonTwo such investigations are in hand. Rent allowances were extended to furnished accommodation in April, and I should welcome any additional evidence on how the scheme is operating.