HC Deb 01 February 1984 vol 53 cc258-9W
Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has liaised with firms who have produced software packages for housing benefits with regard to the time needed to amend computer programmes for changes in the scheme such as those proposed in the Chancellor's autumn statement; and what is the maximum time, in working days, needed for those firms to amend programmes, carry out test runs and make each authority's scheme fully operational.

Dr. Boyson

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 30 January.—[Vol. 53, c.99.]

Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of local authorities' administrative costs for the housing benefit scheme for 1983–84, excluding development costs, for England, Wales and Scotland; and how these figures compare with the original Government estimates.

Dr. Boyson

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of local authorities' development costs for the housing benefit scheme for 1982–83 and 1983–84, for England, Wales and Scotland; and how this compares with the original Government estimates.

Dr. Boyson

Current provision — rounded to the nearest £0.1 million—for development costs incurred in 1982–83 is as follows. Development costs incurred in 1983–84 are included in the provision for administration costs and are not separately identifiable.

£ million
England 6.8
Wales 0.5
Scotland 1.2

It is likely that we shall need to seek further provision later this month. The Government's original estimate of development costs likely to be incurred in 1982–83 was £5 million for Great Britain as a whole.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if housing benefit is subject to cash limits.

Dr. Boyson

No.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Wolverhampton are claiming housing benefit.

Dr. Boyson

Information provided by the metropolitan borough of Wolverhampton as at 31 August 1983 shows that it estimates the number of householders receiving housing benefit to be about 49,800.