§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the average delays for elderly people waiting for housing benefit determinations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI have been asked to reply.
I regret that information is not collected in the form requested. Local authorities have statutory responsibility for determining housing benefit claims. Returns for the financial year 1988–89 have not yet been received from all local authorities, but the information available indicates that 75 per cent. of all claims for housing benefit have been processed within 14 days.
Source: Housing benefit management information system.