§ Mr. Raynsfordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from local authorities about the adequacy of his subsidy allocation for preparation costs to be incurred for the introduction of changes to the housing benefit scheme in April 1988.
§ Mr. Lyell[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987, c. 595]: It was announced last September that the Government would make £25 million available to local authorities during the 1987–88 financial year for preparation costs. After consultation with the local authority associations, the Department wrote to some 480 local authorities on 2 February inviting each authority to submit estimates of its costs, and giving an indicative figure for the amount of its
40W2 Those in receipt of a contributory basic state retirement pension. Excludes those who retire before minimum state pension age or who are in receipt only of non-contributory or graduated pensions.
3 Includes income from self-employment. Assumptions for 1987–88 earnings levels are derived from the Government Actuary's report on the drafts of the Social Security Up-rating and Re-rating Orders 1986 (Cm. 24).
4 Derived from family expenditure survey. Figures are average income for pensioner tax units, which may be either single pensioners or married couples.
Sources:
1. Report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order 1986 and the Social Security (Contributions, Re-rating) (No. 2) Order 1986 (Cm. 24).
2. Social Security Act 1986: Report by the Government Actuary on the Financial Effects of the Bill on the National Insurance Fund