HL Deb 27 January 1986 vol 470 cc534-5WA
Baroness Jeger

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What restitution has been made to date of supplementary benefit payments owed to claimants in bed and breakfast accommodation; and how many claims are estimated to be outstanding.

Baroness Trumpington

Following the original High Court judgment on 31st July 1985 when time limits for payments as a boarder for certain claimants were withdrawn, arrears of supplementary benefits have been paid to some 8,500 claimants amounting to about £750,000.

The Court of Appeal decision on 13th December means that for the period from 29th April to 24th November 1985 arrears will be payable to claimants whose charges for ordinary board and lodging exceeded the relevant limit and the excess amount was not met by the transitional protection arrangements. Instructions on assessing claims were issued during the first week in January and local offices will be identifying affected cases and paying arrears as soon as possible. Copies of the instructions are in the Library. It is not possible at this stage to give a reliable estimate of the number of cases where arrears may be due.

We are also seeking judicial clarification of the effect of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Amendment and Temporary Provisions Regulations (SI 1984/2034) which governed the payments for all types of boarders from December 1984 to April 1985.