Housing Benefit (Hansard, 25 November 1987)

HC Deb 25 November 1987 vol 123 c242W 242W

§ Rev. Martin Smyth
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of people in Northern Ireland and the number of dependants covered thereby claiming housing benefit in 1979 and the latest available date; and if he will distinguish whether these payments are made for tenants in the public sector, the private sector, or for payment with rates.

§ Mr. Needham
The available information is as follows:

¹1979 1987

Public sector tenants 21,000 118,100

Private sector tenants 1,600 20,700

Owner-occupiers 34,800 54,000

57,400 192,800

¹ Prior to 21.11.83, when housing benefit was introduced, rent rebates, rate rebates and rent allowances were generally available only to householders not receiving supplemetary benefit.

Note.—Figures are rounded.

	¹1979	1987
Public sector tenants	21,000	118,100
Private sector tenants	1,600	20,700
Owner-occupiers	34,800	54,000
	57,400	192,800
¹ Prior to 21.11.83, when housing benefit was introduced, rent rebates, rate rebates and rent allowances were generally available only to householders not receiving supplemetary benefit.