§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate has been made of the additional cost of housing benefit from 1 April if it were given to those whose savings did not exceed £10,000 instead of the £6,000 proposed.
§ Mr. PortilloThe cost would be substantial. Precise estimates would depend on the nature of changes to the "tariff income" structure that currently operates for capital holdings between £3,000 and £6,000. The cost would of course be even higher if the capital limits for income support and family credit were increased in the same way in order to maintain the alignment of rules between the three benefits, which is an important achievement of the social security reforms.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of claimants whose housing benefit is delayed with his Department's Dundee offices.
§ Mr. PortilloI regret that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many claimants of housing benefit in Dundee he estimates will receive lower benefits from April;
208W(2) what is his estimate of how many pensioners in Dundee now receiving housing benefit will lose rights after the change in the social security system in April.
§ Mr. PortilloI regret that information relating to loss of housing benefit is not available for individual local authority areas.