§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effect of benefit tapers on low wage earners and of the effects on the unemployed and low wage earners of changes in levels of subsidy to the social housing sector.
§ Mr. BurtI have been asked to reply.
Benefit tapers ensure that low wage earners who are able to increase their income by working harder, or for longer hours, do not lose all or more of any increase in earnings because of the withdrawal of income-related benefits. The current system of tapers concentrates help on those at the bottom of the income scale.
Housing benefit is available to people who are in or out of work, to meet reasonable rents or reasonable rent increases.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Government are taking to prevent an increase in the number of unemployed people dependent on housing benefit to pay their rent.