§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are owed restrospective arrears of housing benefit by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland; and how many of these are (a) private tenants, (b) public sector tenants, (c) owner-occupiers and (d) housing associations.
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§ Mr. Chris PattenInformation is not available in the form requested. However, I understand from the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that on 29 March 1984 the numbers of new claims for housing benefits awaiting assessment were——
- (a) private tenants and tenants of housing associations*— 1141, and
- (b) public sector tenants—1271.
The corresponding figure for claims from owner-occupiers was 642. The main reasons for the backlog, which is greater than normal, are an increase in the number of claims as a direct result of a current advertising campaign and lack of information needed to determine entitlement.
* Separate figures for housing associations are not readily available.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of time taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of the Environment to pay retrospective arrears of housing benefits; and when the Northern Ireland Housing Executive anticipates having the backlog cleared.
§ Mr. Chris PattenInformation is not available in the form requested. However, I have been informed by the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that 95 per cent. of all claims by tenants for housing benefits are determined within 14 days of receiving all the information needed to calculate entitlement. Information is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, about the time taken to clear the remaining cases which are generally of a complex nature. The average time taken by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to determine claims from owner-occupiers is 14 days.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total sum owed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland in retrospective arrears of housing benefit; and what is the average amount of arrears owed to (a) private tenants, (b) public sector tenants, (c) owner-occupiers and (d) housing associations.
§ Mr. Chris PattenAs entitlement cannot yet be determined in the majority of new claims which are outstanding I regret that it is not possible to provide the information requested.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many householders in Northern Ireland with 18 to 20-year-olds on supplementary benefit who are (a) not themselves claiming housing benefits and (b) claiming housing benefits will be affected by the withdrawal of the £3.10 rent addition; and what is the average amount involved in (b).
§ Mr. Chris PattenBased on data obtained from the 1983 continuous household survey, adjusted to take account of the number of householders currently claiming housing benefits, it is estimated that the withdrawal of the £3.10 rent addition in April 1984 from 18–20 year olds on supplementary benefit will affect:
- (a) approximately 5,600 householders not claiming housing benefits, and
- (b) some 6,200 householders claiming housing benefits.
The average amount involved in (b) is not available but most of the householders will receive an increase of up to £3.10 a week in their housing assistance in respect of each 18–20 year old non-dependant affected.