§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will summarise the main points of the report handed, on 23 July, on behalf of Manchester city council to the review team set up to examine the housing benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonI understand that the report in question has been prepared in response to the request for written evidence by the independent team which is currently reviewing the housing benefit scheme. The team will be assessing all the evidence submitted to it and will then report to Ministers when its review is completed. In view of the team's independence, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual pieces of evidence at this stage. There is nothing to stop Manchester city council making its own evidence public if it wishes.