§ 62. Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about payments of benefits to people in hostel accommodation.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardPeople living in hostels are able to claim housing benefit to help towards accommodation charges and income support to help towards other day-to-day living expenses. In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 16 May at column421 I announced that direct payments of income support for service charges are to be made available to all hostels from 21 May. This extends the existing arrangements which have hitherto applied only to night shelters.