§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the Department will monitor the changes in the hostel board and lodging charges in respect of the cost of administration of the new arrangements to(a) the hostels and their management committees, (b) local authorities, and (c) Department of Social Security local offices.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Department will monitor carefully all aspects of the hostel changes, and will consider any points raised by hostels about administration costs. A grant of £0.5 million has been made available to local authorities to support their costs in taking on the payment of housing benefit to hostel dwellers.