§ 41. Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received on the new method of assessment of housing benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonOver 2,000 submissions were received on the housing benefit proposals contained in the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9517). A number of further representations have been made following publication of the White Paper (Cmnd. 9691) and the Social Security Bill.
§ 57. Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he expects to save as a result of his planned changes to students' entitlement to housing benefit.
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§ Mr. NewtonOf the proposals for change referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations on 7 January which would reduce students' entitlement to benefits, those relating to housing benefit account for about 90 per cent. of the gross savings of some £40 million-£45 million. However the savings will be partly offset by the cost of compensatory changes amounting to approximately £20 million-£25 million, of which about half will be distributed through the housing benefits scheme through new income disregards.