HC Deb 29 November 1983 vol 49 cc467-8W
Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many pensioners will lose entitlement to housing benefit, or will receive cuts in the level of their benefit, as a result of proposed changes in the tapers; and what are the average and maximum losses involved per week;

(2) how many pensioners will lose entitlement to housing benefit as a result of proposals not to make rebates of less than £1 a week; and how many will lose (a) more than 25p a week, (b) more than 50p a week and (c) more than than '75p a week.

Dr. Boyson

The effects of the proposed changes in the tapers above the needs allowance and the proposed increases in the minima for standard cases to £1 a week for rent rebates or allowances and 50p for rate rebates will overlap and it is not really feasible to distinguish them. The following estimates therefore show the combined effect of these changes on pensioner households in Great Britain.

Pensioner households, 000s
Numbers affected overall of which 1330
i. numbers losing
(a) 25p and over 920
(b) 50p and over 630
(c) 75p and over 460
ii. numbers losing all entitlement (includes also the effect of the proposed changes in non-dependant deductions) 270

Note: (a) Includes (b) and (c)

(b) include (c)

North western regional health authority
District health authorities Nurses and Midwives (excluding Agency) Administrative and Clerical Ancillary
Lancaster 56.9 9.7 22.9
Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde 57.8 12.4 18.4
Preston 47.6 10.8 20.1
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 56.1 12.0 21.9
Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 60.0 9.5 21.4
West Lancashire 51.1 20.0 17.7
Chorley and South Ribble 58.9 12.8 18.2
Bolton 54.2 12.6 22.0
Bury 55.6 14.9 18.3
North Manchester 50.7 12.5 24.4
Central Manchester 44.4 16.1 22.2
South Manchester 45.3 14.5 23.2
Oldham 54.5 16.0 17.4
Rochdale 54.8 14.3 18.4
Salford 51.5 12.6 22.0

The average loss to pensioner households will be 80p per week. It is not possible to show a maximum loss as this will depend on the level of the household's rent and rates.