HC Deb 02 March 1982 vol 19 cc119-20W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the extent of losses and gains in bands of 20p (a) by pensioners and (b) by non-pensioners, subdivided by income bands, under his proposed housing benefit scheme (i) with a change in the taper above the needs allowance for all households to 20p, 19p, 18p and 17p, respectively, (ii) with a change in the taper below the needs allowance for non-pensioners to 30p, 35p, 40p, 45p and 50p, respectively, (iii) with an increase in the needs allowance for pensioners and non-pensioners separately of 25p, 50p and 75p, respectively and (iv) with a reduction in the taper for pensioners to 45p, 40p, 35p and 30p, respectively, giving the costs and savings in each case;

(2) how many (a) pensioners and (b) non-pensioners he estimates would be entitled to topping-up payments from his Department under his proposed housing benefit scheme (i) with a change in the taper above the needs allowance for all households to 20p, 19p, 18p and 17p, respectively, (ii) with a change in the taper below the needs allowance for non-pensioners to 30p, 35p, 40p and 50p, respectively, (iii) with an increase in the needs allowance for pensioners and non-pensioners separately of 25p, 50p and 75p, respectively, and (iv) with a reduction in the taper for pensioners to 45p, 40p, 35p and 30p, respectively, giving the costs and savings in each case;

(3) how many (a) gainers and (b) losers there would be, categorised separately for pensioners and non-pensioners, and subdivided as far as possible by income bands, under his proposed housing benefit scheme (i) with a change in the taper above the needs allowance for all households to 20p, 19p, 18p and 17p, respectively, (ii) with a change in the taper below the needs allowance for non-pensioners to 30p, 35p, 40p, 45p and 50p, respectively, (iii) with an increase in the needs allowance for pensioners and non-pensioners separately of 25p, 50p and 75p, respectively, and (iv) with a reduction in the taper for pensioners to 45p, 40p, 35p and 30p, respectively, giving the costs and savings in each case.

Mr. Rossi

I regret that it is not possible to make estimates in the form required. I have written to the hon. Member setting out such information as is currently available.