§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give (a) for pensioner households, (b) for non-pensioner wage-earning households and (c) for other households, the numbers who will lose (i) up to £1, (ii) £1 to £2, (iii) £2 to £3, (iv) £3 to £4 and (v) over £4 a week as a result of changes in housing benefit tapers and minima in April; and if he will give equivalent figures for the combined effect of the changes in April and November.
§ Dr. BoysonBroad estimates of the numbers of households affected by the taper changes in April 1984 are as follows:
(000s Great Britain) Size of loss: Pensioners Earners Others Up to £1 1,100 350 220 £1.01 to £2 160 140 60 £2.01 to £3 50 50 10 £3.01 to £4 * 10 0 £4.01 + 0 0 0 Note: * = indicates less than 5,000.
There are no changes to the minima in April 1984.
Regarding November changes, it is not feasible to provide reliable estimates. This would require a number of assumptions about increases in earnings, rent and rates, and about possible limits on losses which we are only now discussing with the local authority associations.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households receiving housing benefit will be subject to higher non-dependant deductions (a) in April and (b) in November; and in each case how many of these households are in receipt of supplementary benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 5 December 1983—[Vol. 50, c.59–60.] The changes in relation to 16 to 17-year-olds will not now come into operation until November 1984: the other changes will be introduced in April as originally proposed.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (a) for pensioner households, (b) for non-pensioner wage-earning households and (c) for other households (i) how many will receive less housing benefit in April as a result of taper changes or higher minima, (ii) how many will lose entitlement to housing benefit completely and (iii) for each category how many of those
164W
Pensioner Households Affected by April 1984 Taper Changes Distribution by distance from the needs allowance and size of loss (000's, Great Britain)
Distance above needs allowance (£'s) Size of weekly loss (£'s) 0–10 10.01–20 20.01–30 30.01–40 40.01+ Total 0.01–0.50 460 180 90 10 20 770 0.51–1.00 50 90 60 60 70 330 1.01–1.50 0 70 30 * 20 120 1.51–2.00 0 0 30 10 * 40 2.01–2.50 0 0 * 30 10 40 2.51–3.00 0 0 0 10 * 10 losing are families with children; if he will give equivalent figures for November; and, for each category of loser in November, how many will also have suffered a reduction in housing benefit in April.
§ Dr. BoysonBroad estimates of those who will receive less benefit because of the changes in April are as follows, divided into the following household types: pensioner, earner, other. The figure for families with children covers families in all three types of household; I regret that information on the number of families with children in each of the three types of household is not available. There will be no changes to minima in April.
Regarding November changes, it is not feasible to provide reliable estimates. This would require a number of aassumptions about increases in earnings rent and rates, and about possible limits on losses which we are only now discussing with the local authority associations.
Great Britain Thousands Household type Number receiving less benefit Pensioner 1,300 Earner 550 Other 300 TOTAL 2,150 Households with children 460
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the saving from the decision to postpone the increase in the housing benefit children's needs allowance in the financial year 1984–85.
§ Dr. BoysonThe saving in 1984–85 will be £12 million.