§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the representations he has received on the recently announced cuts in housing benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonWe have formally consulted the social security advisory committee and the local authority associations and we are awaiting their response. As is its usual procedure, the SSAC has invited representations on our proposals and its report will take account of the views it receives. The SSAC report, which will be printed as a Command Paper, will also list the organisations and individuals who make representations. We have received only a small number of representations direct; these include views from the Disability Alliance and SHAC—the London Housing Aid Centre.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners will be taken off supplementary benefit as a result of the changes to housing benefit regulations announced with the Chancellor's autumn statement.
§ Dr. BoysonHouseholders on supplementary benefit will be affected only by the non-dependant deduction changes. In most cases the deductions will be made from their housing benefit, not their supplementary benefit. It is possible that a very few pensioner owner-occupiers on supplementary benefit, who are entitled only by virtue of those housing requirements which are still met under194W supplementary benefit, will lose their entitlement as a result of the changes. However, the number who may be so affected is far too low to estimate accurately.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the losses of housing benefit which would be suffered by retirement pensioners receiving income above the needs allowance of 50 pence, £1, £3, £5 and £10 per week and paying notional rates of £6 per week and notional rent of £15 per week, as a result of changes to housing benefit announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement.
§ Dr. BoysonNone of the examples quoted will be affected by the proposed increase in the minima for standard cases. The effect of the proposed changes to the tapers will be as follows:
Distance above needs allowance Maximum weekly loss from taper changes £ £ 0.50 0.06 1.00 0.12 3.00 0.36 5.00 0.60 10.00 1.20
§ M r. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his timetable for laying the regulations containing the changes in housing benefit outlined in the Chancellor's autumn statement; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonWe are currently consulting the social security advisory committee and the local authority associations. We hope to consider its views and to take our final decisions by Christmas. My right hon. Friend would then aim to lay regulations before Parliament as early as possible in the new year. This timetable is designed to give local authorities as much time as possible to implement the Government's decisions.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that additional payments for fuel are made more accessible and extensive by his Department, paying particular attention to the problems caused by the introduction of housing benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. Supplementary benefit heating additions are now at their highest ever real value, and are given to a higher proportion of claimants than ever before.