Housing Benefit (Hansard, 18 December 1987)

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the cost of housing benefit for elderly people in Scotland, for each year since 1982;
(2) what was for each year since 1982 the total cost of housing benefit in Scotland.

§ Mr. Portillo
The table provides the information requested on housing benefit expenditure on the basis of the latest available information from local authorities' subsidy claims. I regret that separate information on the cost of housing benefit for elderly people is not available.

£ million

1982–83 42

1983–84 384

1984–85 436

1985–86 515

1986–87 576

1987–88 664

Notes
1. The figures cover local authorities' total benefit expenditure and costs of administering the housing benefit scheme.
2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 million.
3. The figures for 1982–83 and 1983–84 reflect the fact that housing benefit was partially introduced from November 1982, and fully from
916W
Comparable information for the years 1983–84 to 1986–87 is held in the Library.
Information about Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
April 1983. The apparent large increase in expenditure in 1983–84 arose primarily from the reclassification of what was formerly supplementary benefit expenditure.

§ Mrs. Beckett
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households(a) in total,(b) by tenure and (c) by household type are expected to receive (a) more and (b) less housing benefit by up to £1 a week, £1 to £2 a week, £2 to £3 a week, £3 to £4 a week, £4 to £5 a week and £5 plus a week as a result of the main changes to the scheme to be implemented in April 1988 based on the most recent caseload statistics available.

§ Mr. Portillo
[holding answer 3 December 1987]: The information is in the tables. These tables are from the same model and in the same format as those in the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits", published in October 1987. A copy of this is in the Library. They illustrate the structural impact, rather than the cash position at the point of change, and include estimates for changes brought about by the new capital rule and by the minimum 20 per cent. contribution to domestic rates. These tables should be read in conjunction with those in the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits", as many of those whose housing benefit entitlement will decrease may be wholly or partially compensated by increased entitlement to income support or family credit.
917W

Structural change in housing benefit—all cases

(thousands)

Client Group Gains Total gainer No change Total losers Losses

£5+ 4–5 3–4 2–3 1–2 £1 £1 1–2 2–3 3–4 4–5 £5 +

Pensioners 80 + ^* ^* 10 40 30 30 110 120 490 170 230 60 10 ^* 20

Pensioners 60–79 20 20 20 50 170 200 480 660 2,410 630 1,090 320 130 50 190

Sick or disabled 10 20 20 10 10 10 80 30 130 40 60 20 ^* ^* 10

Lone Parents

Full time work ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 60 ^* 10 10 ^* 10 30

—Not full time work ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 610 70 420 90 10 10 20

—Total ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 680 70 430 100 10 20 50

Couples with children

—Full time work ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 10 ^* 330 20 60 60 30 40 120

—not full time work ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 20 740 80 510 140 10 ^* ^*

—Total 10 ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 30 30 1,070 110 560 190 40 40 120

Others

—Full time work ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 10 140 20 40 20 20 ^* 30

—Not full time work ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* ^* 10 90 780 180 370 110 20 10 80

Total 50 40 60 110 220 240 720 960 5,690 1,220 2,780 820 250 130 500

Structural change in housing benefit—all cases

(thousands)

Type of tenure Gains Total gainer No change Total losers Losses

£5+ 4–5 3–4 2–3 1–2 £1 £1 1–2 2–3 3–4 4–5 £5 +

Local authority rented 30 30 50 90 160 150 510 420 3,050 500 1,730 390 90 50 290

Private rented 10 10 ^* 20 30 30 110 190 790 250 310 70 40 20 100

Owner occupiers ^* ^* ^* ^* 30 60 100 350 1,850 470 740 360 110 60 110

Total 50 40 60 100 220 240 720 960 5,690 1,220 2,790 820 250 130 500

Notes:
(1) These estimates are based on the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) simulation model.
(2) The estimates exclude the effect of Family Credit calculations.
(3) The estimates are not adjusted for differential take-up.
(4) Some totals may not add due to rounding.
(5) An asterisk indicates less than 5,000 cases.

	£ million
1982–83	42
1983–84	384
1984–85	436
1985–86	515
1986–87	576
1987–88	664

Structural change in housing benefit—all cases
(thousands)
Client Group	Gains	Total gainer	No change	Total losers	Losses
	£5+	4–5	3–4	2–3	1–2	£1				£1	1–2	2–3	3–4	4–5	£5 +
Pensioners 80 +	^*	^*	10	40	30	30	110	120	490	170	230	60	10	^*	20
Pensioners 60–79	20	20	20	50	170	200	480	660	2,410	630	1,090	320	130	50	190
Sick or disabled	10	20	20	10	10	10	80	30	130	40	60	20	^*	^*	10
Lone Parents
Full time work	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	60	^*	10	10	^*	10	30
—Not full time work	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	610	70	420	90	10	10	20
—Total	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	680	70	430	100	10	20	50
Couples with children
—Full time work	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	10	^*	330	20	60	60	30	40	120
—not full time work	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	20	740	80	510	140	10	^*	^*
—Total	10	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	30	30	1,070	110	560	190	40	40	120
Others
—Full time work	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	10	140	20	40	20	20	^*	30
—Not full time work	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	^*	10	90	780	180	370	110	20	10	80
Total	50	40	60	110	220	240	720	960	5,690	1,220	2,780	820	250	130	500

Structural change in housing benefit—all cases
(thousands)
Type of tenure	Gains	Total gainer	No change	Total losers	Losses
	£5+	4–5	3–4	2–3	1–2	£1				£1	1–2	2–3	3–4	4–5	£5 +
Local authority rented	30	30	50	90	160	150	510	420	3,050	500	1,730	390	90	50	290
Private rented	10	10	^*	20	30	30	110	190	790	250	310	70	40	20	100
Owner occupiers	^*	^*	^*	^*	30	60	100	350	1,850	470	740	360	110	60	110
Total	50	40	60	100	220	240	720	960	5,690	1,220	2,790	820	250	130	500