HC Deb 30 January 1984 vol 53 cc98-101W
Mr. Murphy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received from individuals and organisations regarding the possible changes in housing benefit and their expected effect on occupational pensioners.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he had received by 20 January 1984 concerning his proposed changes to housing benefit.

Dr. Boyson

We have received a report from the Social Security Advisory Committee, which will be published shortly, together with the Government's response. We also consulted the local authority associations. In addition we have received a number of representations from hon. Members, from organisations, including Age Concern, the Disability Alliance, the Child Poverty Action Group and the London Housing Aid Centre—SHAC—and from members of the public.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households were in receipt of unified housing benefit in Stoke-on-Trent in each of the months since April 1983.

Dr. Boyson

Information provided by Stoke-on-Trent district council on 31 August 1983 indicates that the number of households receiving housing benefit was 34,980. Monthly information is not held centrally, but the hon. Member may like to contact the district council for further details.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in his discussions with the local authorities concerning the proposed changes to housing benefit, any indication was given of the length of time authorities would need to introduce new changes;

(2) what information he has received from local authorities or from computer firms supplying them concerning the amount of time needed to amend housing benefit programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Boyson

The local authority associations expressed concern that final decisions have not yet been taken and have asked for as much notice as possible of any changes. The Department has also consulted management and system consultants about the nature and time scale of the administrative task for local authorities of implementing the proposed changes. This will vary from authority to authority depending on the systems they used to administer the scheme.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners in receipt of housing benefit also pay tax; and how many pensioners who will lose money as a result of changes to housing benefit announced in the autumn statement will continue to pay tax.

Dr. Boyson

Approximately 1.2 million pensioner households in receipt of rent or rate rebates or allowances in the United Kingdom were estimated to be taxpayers in 1982, the latest date for which such figures are available. Information is not available on the number of pensioners who will lose money as a result of these changes and who are taxpayers.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate (a) the number of pensioner households failing to claim housing benefit but entitled to do so and (b) the number of these who would lose money if they were claiming under his proposed changes.

Dr. Boyson

Such estimates cannot be made because information on the number of households eligible for housing benefit cannot be provided until more recent family expenditure data become available.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the average weekly loss that pensioners who are tenants will receive as a result of changes to housing benefit.

Dr. Boyson

It is estimated that the average weekly loss to those pensioner tenants who will be affected by the proposed changes to the tapers and minima will be 85p for private tenants and £1.31 for local authority tenants. Housing benefit recipients need not lose money as a result of the proposed changes in the non-dependant deductions because the non-dependants concerned will be expected to contribute rather more towards their housing costs.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings in cash and in proportion to the total will accrue as a result of his decision to change entitlement for housing benefit from pensioner households.

Dr. Boyson

Total expenditure on housing benefits in 1984–85 is expected to be about £3,750 million, of which over 50 per cent. (about £1,900 million) goes to pensioner households. The proposals announced at the time of the Autumn Statement will produce savings of about £170 million — 4½ per cent. of total expenditure. Of these savings, about £60 million (35 per cent.) will accrue from pensioner households. This represents 3 per cent. of the housing benefit paid to pensioners.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners will be affected by the changes to housing benefit announced in the autumn statement; and what will be the cash losses involved, in relation to the impact of the earnings rule.

Dr. Boyson

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 21 December 1983—[Vol. 51, c.286–87]— which gave estimates of the number of pensioners who will be affected by the changes, and the cash losses involved. Changes in housing benefit will not affect or be affected by the operation of the retirement pensioners earnings rule.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the number of pensioner losers (a) with occupational pensions, (b) with part-time earnings, (c) with savings or investment income and (d) with state earnings-related, additional or graduated pensions.

Dr. Boyson

I regret that this information is not available because insufficient information is held centrally to distinguish between these different sources of income.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will recalculate the effects of his proposed changes to housing benefit for pensioner households if the pensioner needs allowance were to be increased by (a) 75p a week, (b) £1 a week and (c) £1.50 a week; and if he will express the results of his calculations in a table similar to that of his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown, Official Report, 21 December 1983, c. 287–88;

(2) if he will estimate the number of pensioner losers were he to introduce the following changes to housing benefit: limiting minimum repayments to 25p rates and 50p rent, halving the proposed increase in the non-dependants contribution, raising the taper on rent to 25 per cent. and on rates to 8 per cent. and imposing a maximum loss safeguard of £1 per week; what would be the costs incurred to the Treasury involved in each of the above proposals and as an overall package; and if he will publish the information with details of cash losses and incomes involved ed in tabular form similar to that of his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown, Official Report, 21 December 1983, c. 287–88.

Dr. Boyson

The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of pensioners losing housing benefit under the proposed changes due to (a) increased tapers about the needs allowance, (b) non—dependant deduction changes, (c) high rent scheme authorisation changes and (d) increase in minima for standard cases.

Dr. Boyson

It is estimated that the number of pensioners who will be affected by the proposed changes is as follows:

  1. (a) and (b) tapers and minima: 1,330,000. It is not feasible to distinguish the effect of the proposed changes in the tapers from the proposed increase in the minima for standard cases;
  2. (c) non-dependant deductions: about 320,000 although these need not lose money as the non-dependants will be expected to contribute rather more towards their housing costs;
  3. (d) high rent changes: no estimates are available.

Mr. Kennedy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he still expects that the 1 April deadline for implementation of the announced cuts in housing benefits will be met; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Boyson

We shall announce final decisions on our proposals shortly, taking account of the need for local authorities to be given adequate time to implement them.

Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the percentage of council tenants in receipt of housing benefits in each of the district councils;

(2) what is the percentage of development corporation tenants in receipt of housing benefits in each of the Scottish new towns.

Dr. Boyson

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings in housing benefit he expects to result following the enactment of clause 24 of the Housing and Building Control Bill.

Dr. Boyson

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.