§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners receiving earnings-related additions to the state pension will lose housing benefit as a result of changes announced with the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret that this information is not available because sufficient information is not held centrally to identify sources of income above basic pension levels.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers of households in the following categories which will suffer a reduction in housing benefit as a consequence of changes in benefit announced last month who are (a) families in work and (b) all others, excluding pensioner households.
§ Dr. BoysonWe estimate that approximately 350,000 families in work, and 500,000 households in all other categories—excluding pensioner households—will be affected by the proposed changes to the tapers above the needs allowance and the proposed increase in the minima for standard cases.