§ 21. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that local authorities are fully prepared for the full start of housing benefit in April.
§ Mr. RossiI have no reason to believe that most local authorities will not be able to introduce housing benefit as planned. Delays may occur in those local authorities linked to the DHSS local offices which were involved in industrial action. We are keeping the situation under review.
§ 34. Mr. Joseph Deanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reimburse local authorities in full for administrative costs incurred in setting up the housing benefit scheme.
§ Mr. RossiYes, under the Housing Benefits (Subsidy) No. 1 Order 1982—SI 1982 No. 903—local authorities will be recompensed in full for any net addition to administrative and other costs which they are required to incur in setting up the housing benefits scheme in 1982–83.
§ 71. Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants will lose benefit when the second stage of the housing benefit scheme is introduced in April.
§ Mr. RossiI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) and the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry120W Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 25 October 1982—[Vol. 29, c. 311]—and to my subsequent letters dated 16 December 1982, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House.
§ 42. Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the administrative operation of the housing benefit scheme.