HC Deb 20 April 1988 vol 131 cc463-4W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate his latest estimates of the numbers of persons gaining and losing as a result of social security changes coming into effect in April, in the following categories(a) those affected by the abolition of housing benefit supplement, (b) those affected by the reductions in housing benefit related to amenity charges paid to landlords and (c) those affected by the increase in housing benefit non-dependant deductions.

Mr. Portillo

I regret that data are not available in the form requested. Available information is contained in "The Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits." These tables allow for the effect of the abolition of housing benefit supplement, but not for the change to the structure of non-dependant deductions. The tables make no allowances for changes to the support received under the former housing benefit scheme by those people on supplementary benefit who were paying for their fuel with their rent—around 90,000 claimants. This help is being phased out over the next five years.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage loss in income in(a) Burnley and (b) Pendle due to housing benefit reductions of those earning (i) £60 per week, (ii) £80 per week and (iii) £150 per week.

Mr. Portillo

I regret that the information is not available.

Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the local government housing authorities which failed to convert their housing benefit regulations in line with the Social Security Act 1986 by the designated time;

(2) if he will investigate those housing authorities which failed to convert their housing benefit regulations in line with the Social Security Act 1986 by the designated time and deposit his findings in the Library.

Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the local authority housing departments which have failed to convert all their housing benefit claimants' cases from the old system to the new, as defined by the Social Security Act 1986, by the due date of 4 April; and what percentage of claimants for each authority had not been notified of their precise entitlements by that date.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities had housing benefit systems in operation in time for the start of the new housing benefit scheme on 1 April.

Mr. Portillo

I regret that the information requested is not held centrally.