§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current estimate of eligible households in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland which do not take up housing benefit; what means are used in order to improve the take-up rate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtTake up figures for housing benefit are not available on a regional basis. Estimates of the take up of income related benefits for Great Britain were published in "Income Related Benefit Estimates of Take-up in 1989" in January this year, a copy of which is in the Library. These figures show that 91 per cent. of available housing benefit was being received by 83 per cent. of those eligible to claim.
Information on housing benefit is available at all benefit agency and unemployment benefit offices, though as responsibility for the administration of housing benefit lies with individual local authorities they are in the best position to undertake local publicity and initiatives to improve local take-up.