§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the original estimated cost of administering the housing benefit scheme, including setting up costs; and what is the most recent revised estimate.
§ Dr. Boyson[pursuant to his reply, 31 October 1983, c. 295]: On the basis of information from local authorities, the Government's original 1981 estimates of the additional costs likely to be incurred by local authorities in setting up and running the housing benefits scheme were £5 million and up to £19 million per year respectively. The revised estimates are £8.5 million and £25 million. These last figures are based on claims from local authorities which are at this stage provisional.