HC Deb 11 March 1993 vol 220 cc692-3W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his reply of 16 March 1992,Official Report, column 896, of his estimate of the number of households, by tenure, whose housing benefit is reduced because of non-dependants' deductions, sub-divided into (a) those aged 16 and 17 years, (b) 18 to 24 years, and (c) 25 years and over.

Mr. Burt

The information is in the table:

Claimants whose housing benefit is reduced through non–dependant deductions: May 1991
Age of claimant LA tenants Private tenants Total
(i) Housing benefit cases where income support is payable
16–17 — 0 —
18–24 7,000 1,000 8,000
25 and over 173,000 27,000 200,000
(ii) Housing benefit only cases
16–17 0 0 0
18–241 — — —
25 and over 137,000 16,000 153,000
(iii) All cases
16–17 — 0 —
18–24 7,000 1,000 8,000
25 and over 310,000 44,000 353,000
1 Indicates less than 500 cases.

Source: The Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit Management Information System annual I per cent. sample for May 1991. Figures are rounded.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review tariff income levels for capital resources over £3,000 when assessing entitlement to housing benefit and community charge benefit.

Mr. Scott

Although these levels are kept under review, we have no plans to change the present arrangements.