§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the best available estimate of the total amount of public expenditure expected to be saved in the current financial year as a result of the reduction in parents' entitlement to housing benefit when their working children are living at home introduced in April 1984; and whether he will now abolish the reductions.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe estimated saving from the increase in the non-dependant deductions for 18 to 20-year-olds in the housing benefit and supplementary benefit schemes from April 1984 is £11 million in the current financial year. The future of non-dependant deductions will be part of our considerations following the social security reviews.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the best available estimate of the number of young people made homeless as a result of the reduction in parents' entitlement to housing benefit when working children are living at home, introduced in April 1984.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have no evidence that any working children living in their parents' household have been made homeless as a direct result of the increase in the housing benefit non-dependant deductions in April 1984.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research was conducted by his Department into the likely effects of the reductions in the entitlement to housing benefit of families whose children are working, introduced in April 1984; before the introduction of the reductions; what research into the 65W actual effects has since been conducted; what research into the effects is now planned; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyIn relation to wage levels, the contributions to housing costs expected from young people in work are not excessive. No research has been conducted by the Department into the likely effects of non-dependent deductions, and there are no immediate plans to commission research in this area.