HC Deb 02 December 1993 vol 233 cc654-5W
Sir David Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentages of(a) local authority and (b) housing association tenants were receiving housing benefit in each year since 1979–80.

Mr. Burt

I have been asked to reply.

The percentages, which should be used as a general guide only, of local authority tenancies in receipt of housing benefit rent rebates are as follows:

Year Percentage
1979–80 18
1980–81 20
1981–82 25
1982–83 49
1983–84 62
1984–85 63
1985–86 64
1986–87 65
1987–88 65
1988–89 58

Year Percentage
1989–90 57
1990–91 58
1991–92 60
1992–93 64

Notes:

Unified Housing benefit scheme introduced in 1982–83.

Housing Benefit affected by Reform of Social Security 1988.

Sources: Caseload statistics underlying information in "The Growth of Social Security" and the number of local authority tenancies in "Housing and Construction Statistics". Due to considerable changes in housing benefit schemes since 1979, the underlying figures are subject to some estimation.

Comparable information concerning housing associations tenancies is not available, having been collected only from 1992.