§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many additional staff have been recruited by local authorities to deal with the housing benefit scheme;
(2) how many local authority staff are employed in administering the housing benefit scheme;
(3) how many local authority staff have been redeployed to administer the housing benefit scheme.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he is taking to identify those becoming eligible for housing benefit supplement after 22 November;
(2) how many people are now claiming housing benefit supplement.
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§ Mr. RossiNone. Housing benefit supplement is not payable until the full scheme begins in April 1983.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional benefits housing benefit supplement beneficiaries will be entitled to.
§ Mr. RossiHousing benefit supplement will be a payment of supplementary benefit. Recipients will be eligible for all other benefits associated with supplementary benefit for example single payments, where appropriate qualification for the long-term supplementary benefit scale rate and "passported" benefits, such as free school meals.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of tenants who will lose under the housing benefit scheme because their authorities give rent-free weeks at Christmas.