HC Deb 02 February 1994 vol 236 cc732-3W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) council tenants, (b) housing association tenants, (c) private tenants and (d) owner occupiers were in receipt of housing benefit in (i) Inverclyde, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Scotland as a whole at the latest available date.

Mr. Burt

The available information is in the table.

Percentage of local authority tenants receiving Housing Benefit Percentage of private tenants receiving Housing Benefit
Inverclyde 55 50
Strathclyde 60 55
Scotland 60 50

Sources: Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly caseload returns for 1991 and the 1991 Scottish Office tenancy statistics.

Notes:

  1. (i) Information on the number of Housing Association tenancies is not available, therefore, the information is included with the private tenants.
  2. (ii) Owner Occupiers in Scotland have not been eligible for Housing Benefit (rate rebates) since April 1989 when the Community Charge Benefit was introduced.
  3. (iii) The caseload data is an average of four point in time counts and includes estimates for non-responding authorities, therefore, the information should be regarded only as a general indication.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for the United Kingdom in total, and by standard region including Greater London, the number of households claiming housing benefit for each year since 1978–79.

Mr. Burt

[holding answer 21 January 1994]: The available information is in the table.