§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the number of retirement pensioners who will lose housing benefit as a result of the changes announced on 22 October, of the average loss to pensioners and of how many pensioners will lose (a) up to £1 a week, (b) over £1 and up to £2 a week, (c) over £2 and up to £3 a week, (d) over £3 and up to £4 a week and (e) more than £4 a week;
472W(2) what is his estimate of the number of retirement pensioners who will lose all entitlement to housing benefit as a result of the changes announced on 22 October;
(3) how many of those retirement pensioners who will lose (a) some housing benefit and (b) all housing benefit as a result of the changes announced on 22 October he estimates are (i) local authority tenants and (ii) private tenants.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of retirement pensioners who will lose housing benefit supplement as a result of the changes to supplementary benefit arrangements announced on 22 October.
§ Mr. LyellThe number of retirement pensioners affected is too small for a reliable estimate to be made. In such cases the reduction as result of these changes will not in general exceed 10 pence a week.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the percentage increases in non-dependant deductions from housing benefit for rent and rates which will take effect in April 1987.
§ Mr. LyellNon-dependant deductions are normally uprated in line with the housing element of the Retail Price Index. The increases announced on 22 October are in line with the 2.9 per cent. movement in this element between January and September 1986.