§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what levels of gross income entitlement to housing benefit will cease for a working single person, childless couple, couple plus one, two, three and four children and lone parent plus one, two, three and four children, assuming average rent and rates, under the proposals in Cmnd. 9691; and, in each case, at what income levels entitlement ceases at present.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the estimated £450 million reduction in expenditure on housing benefit referred to in his reply of 19 December 1985 to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East, Official Report, column 317, includes reduced expenditure on housing benefit resulting from payment of family credit; and what is his estimate of the reduction in expenditure on housing benefit due to family credit payments.
§ Mr. NewtonThe estimated £450 million reduction in housing benefit expenditure is a broad indication of the likely effect of all the changes, including reductions in housing benefit brought about by increased family credit. It is impossible to isolate the latter effect with any degree of precision, but it is likely to contribute something in the range of £25 million to £50 million towards the overall reduction in housing benefit expenditure.