§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to estimate the number of additional staff employed by local authorities to administer the housing benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonFinal figures are not yet available for 1983–84 but on the basis of estimates so far received from local authorities, about 3,500 additional staff are being employed. The fact that this is more than originally estimated is probably due to a number of factors including a marked increase in take-up, which would have affected the staffing requirement in the Department if the work had not been taken on by local authorities. The independent review of the housing benefit scheme, which is due to report to my right hon. Friend by the end of the year, is looking, among other things, at ways of simplifying the scheme and improving its administration.