§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers health authorities have to subsidise the rents of tenants in their employment; whether such subsidy can be differentiated according to income; and whether such subsidy can exceed applicable levels of housing benefit.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIn many localities successful recruitment and retention of NHS staff depends on authorities providing subsidised residential accommodation. The level of the subsidy will be a matter for each individual authority.
Some staff are required to occupy NHS accommodation as a condition of employment. Where this is so, authorities abate rent or lodging charges in accordance with centrally negotiated agreements.
With the lifting of Crown immunity on 1 April, staff who occupy NHS accommodation can now apply to their local authority for housing benefit in the same way as non-NHS tenants. Detailed guidance on all these matters was issued by the Department to all health authorities in March this year in HG(91)9, a copy of which is available in the Library.
The payment of housing benefit is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.