§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total financial contribution per family per week paid by his Department in respect of accommodation provided by local authorities; 426W what is the maximum contribution that may be paid (a) for bed and breakfast and (b) for other accommodation; and under what statutory authority such contributions are authorised.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to payments of supplementary benefit. The average weekly amount of rent included in the assessment of supplementary benefit for local authority tenants was £8 at August 1979. No maximum is laid down for any type of accommodation; but, as regards rent, the Supplementary Benefits Commission is required not to pay more than it considers reasonable in the circumstances, and, as regards board and lodging charges, the commission is required not to pay more than it considers appropriate—Supplementary Benefits Act 1976, schedule 1, paragraphs 11 and 15.