HC Deb 26 May 1993 vol 225 c636W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many grants for rent deposits under the single payments system were not returned by landlords in the three years prior to its replacement by the social fund; and what was the annual cost of the non-returned deposits.

Mr. Scott

The information requested is not available.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many grants for rent deposits were made under the single payments system in the three years prior to its replacement by the social fund; what was the annual cost; and what were unit costs as a proportion of the total single payment spending.

Mr. Scott

The available information is in the table.

Year Estimated expenditure (£ million) Estimated claims (Thousands) 1 Single payment expenditure (£ million)
1985–86 3 30,000 335
1986–87 7 49,000 330
1987–88 10 2 294
1 To the nearest thousand.
2 Unavailable.

The table indicates that deposits accounted for an estimated 2.1 per cent. of the total single payment expenditure over this period.