§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about action taken by local authorities in Tyne and Wear on cases referred to them in accordance with his Department's circular S12/85 on substandard board and lodging accommodation during the period September 1985 to March 1986.
§ Mr. NewtonI understand that local authorities in the Tyne and Wear area have taken action in one case following reference to them in accordance with the Department's circular S12/85 during the period of September 1985 to March 1986. The details of any such action are, of course, the responsibility of the local authority concerned—Newcastle city council— and the hon. Member may therefore wish to consult it directly.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons aged under 26 years have now been moved on (i) after two weeks, (ii) after four weeks and (iii) after eight weeks (a) nationally and (b) by each region, under the board and lodging regulations since April 1985.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 9 April 1986, c. 122–23]: I assume the hon. Member is referring to those boarders who are subject to a reduction in benefit after a given period: it does not follow that they have moved. Information is not available in the form requested. The number of ordinary boarders in the relevant age groups during the period April to July 1985 drawn from special returns submitted by local offices is set out in the table. It is estimated that about a quarter of the under 26-year-olds overall were exempt from the restrictions on payment as a boarder. Similar special returns have not been maintained for later periods.
Ordinary boarders age 16 to 25 Cases subject to the Board and Lodging Regulations between 29 April
and 30 July 1985
Region Total cases London North 11,600 London South 13,300 Wales and South West 12,000 Midlands 9,200 North West 6,000 North East 6,400 Scotland 5,900 TOTAL 64,300
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hotels, bed and breakfast establishments or other board and lodging establishments are known to exist within the area of each Department of Health and Social Security office operating the two-, four-or eight-week rules under the board and lodging regulations, and, of these, how many in each case make charges currently within the Department of Health and Social Security board and lodging limits and how many 191W outside it by (i) less than £5 per week, (ii) £5 to £10 per week, (iii) £10 to £20 per week, (iv) £20 to £40 per week and (v) more than £40 per week.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 9 April 1986, c. 122–23]: I regret that comprehensive information on the number and charges of board and lodging establishments in each local social security office area is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The charges made in a sample of different types of boarder accommodation throughout the country are currently being analysed as part of the review of board and lodging limits.