§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can now estimate the total additional manpower requirements of local authorities in Wales for the administration of the the new housing benefit scheme.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is too early to make a firm estimate of the extra staff required by local authorities to administer the housing benefit scheme but it is likely that the figure for 1983–84, the first full year of the scheme, will turn out to be higher than originally expected.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households (a) in the private sector and (b) in the public sector in Burnley were in receipt of unified housing benefits for each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.
§ Dr. BoysonInformation provided by the borough of Burnley on 31 August 1983 suggests that the number of households receiving housing benefit in the private sector was 8,800 and, in the public sector, 5,400. Monthly information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may like to contact the district council for further details.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate (a) the total additional local government manpower requirements and (b) the total additional local government financial cost for local authorities in England of administering the unified housing benefit scheme.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is too early to make a firm estimate of the extra staff required by local government to administer the housing benefit scheme but it is likely that the figure for 1983–84, the first full year of the scheme, will turn out to be higher than originally expected. Current provision for additional costs in England is about £22 million but we shall probably have to take further provision next month.
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§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people who are on standard housing benefit are currently affected by non-dependant deductions; how many of these are above pensionable age; and how many are above the needs allowance.
§ Dr. BoysonWe estimate that slightly under 500,000 households have non-dependant deductions; of these slightly under 200,000 pensioner households and a similar number are above the needs allowance.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants on certificated housing benefit have non-dependant deductions; and how many are pensioners.
§ Dr. BoysonI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the percentage take-up of housing benefit supplement (a) by region and (b) by age.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret information on the take-up of housing benefit supplement is not yet available.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) on what statistical basis the figures for housing benefit losers have been calculated: on which sources of information statistics on housing benefit have been based; and if he is satisfied that the data available to him from local authorities are complete.
(2) what new model assumptions of the effects of changes in housing benefit his Department has calculated in the context of the draft proposals for changes in housing benefit already announced or variations thereof; if he will place them in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the November 1983 increases in the housing benefit needs allowances and retirement pensions required local authorities to recalculate standard housing benefit for retirement pensioners.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give an assurance that, in the event of any delay in the implementation of the housing benefit cuts, no such cuts shall take effect restrospectively.
§ Dr. BoysonI shall let my hon. Friend and the hon. Members have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will refer to the Social Security Advisory Committee all changes in housing benefits regulations arising from his consideration of representations to him since 17 November 1983.
§ Dr. BoysonI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce an income disregard for pensioners for housing benefit purposes, similar to that enjoyed by those in work, which would cover occupational pensions, savings, investment income, graduated and additional pension; and what calculation he has made of the cost of so doing.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. Such a disregard would not be justified. The disregard of earnings is intended to offset the average tax and national insurance payable up to the level 503W of the single person's needs allowance, plus average travel to work expenses. The last two expenses are not incurred by retired pensioners. Nor, because of the higher age allowance, do most pensioners pay tax on income up to the needs allowance level. No calculation of the cost of introducing an income disregard for pensioners has been made.
§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now able to estimate the number of staff employed by local authorities on housing benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is too early to make a firm estimate but it is likely that the figures for 1983–84, the first full year of the scheme, will turn out to be higher than originally expected.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings in housing benefit he expects to result following the enactment of section 24 of the Housing and Building Control Bill.
§ Dr. Boyson[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1984, c. 101]: I understand that my hon. Friend is actually referring to clause 26 of the Housing and Building Control Bill. It is not possible to estimate the effect of this clause on housing benefit expenditure. It will depend on how local authorities alter their charging practices as a result of any regulations made under the clause, if enacted.