§ Sir Ian GilmourTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the anticipated effects of the Housing Act 1988 and the community charge on the housing benefit caseload in 1990–91, distinguishing between the number of(a) families and (b) persons affected.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The effects of the 1988 Housing Act will unfold gradually over time and it is not possible to project the likely effect in any particular year. We estimate that one in four of those liable for community charge in Great Britain will benefit from the effective help given by the rebate scheme.
Local office Reason for decision Eston Hartlepool Middlesbrough Redcar Stockton Savings over £500 meet the full cost 3 3 7 5 3 Not in receipt of IS and unlikely to qualify 30 72 88 56 136 Item(s) excluded by Direction 11 26 42 30 49 Applicant excluded by Direction1 11 10 67 0 260 Applied for less than £30 9 18 23 14 24 Adjusted amount less than £30 0 2 2 2 4 Previous application and decision for the item 10 22 40 8 65 Help available from another source 6 9 8 5 13 Priority too low to meet from the budget 8 25 124 162 17 Alternative available to the whole application 1 4 11 1 2 Others not covered above 248 350 829 182 588 1 When the general criteria for awarding a Community Care Grant (Direction 4) is not satisfied, the decision has usually been entered as "Others". In the case of Stockton, some of these have been included here.