HC Deb 20 July 1977 vol 935 c629W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what standard his Department applies as appropriate for the size of accommodation, expressed as a number of rooms, for purposes of payment of rent to a single mother with one child;

(2) at what rate rent in Humberside is considered unreasonably high for a social security claimant and therefore is not met in full by his Department;

(3) at what rate rent in London is considered unreasonably high for a social security claimant and therefore is not met in full by his Department.

Mr. Orme

No fixed limits either of rent or number of rooms are laid down by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; account is taken of all the circumstances in deciding whether to meet rent in full.