HC Deb 20 February 1990 vol 167 cc685-6W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has about the difference between rent officer determination and market rents since the implementation of new restrictions under the housing benefit regulations.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Information supplied by rent officers is being collected by the Department of the Environment and will be published in due course.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision exists to ensure that if rents are increased as a result of inclusive private sector rents becoming net rents after the abolition of the rating system such increases are not caught by subsidy restrictions imposed by rent officer determination.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

We intend to introduce arrangements in the 1990–91 subsidy order to allow authorities to receive full subsidy on housing benefit paid in respect of any element of rent which, prior to 1990, was treated as rates. When the rent is next referred to the rent officer in the normal way (after a maximum of 12 months), the rent officer will look at the full charge, and the subsequent position will depend on the new determination.