HC Deb 20 February 1995 vol 255 cc72-3W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department takes to ensure that payments of housing benefit to local authorities should at all times be in time to avoid any arrears arising on tenants' rent accounts due to late housing benefit payments.

Mr. Roger Evans

Housing benefit is paid by local authorities. Regulations require local authorities to make payments of housing benefit within 14 days of receipt of the claim or as soon as practicable thereafter. Local authorities are also required to make payments on account if it is impracticable to determine a rent allowance within 14 days of the claim being made provided that the delay is not due to the failure of the claimant to provide information in support of that claim.

Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the additional cost to the housing benefit budget of people moved out of care institutions under the care in the community programme to date.

Mr. Roger Evans

No information is collected about the number of people re-entering the community under the care in the community programme, or about their housing arrangements. Consequently, it is not possible to estimate the additional expenditure in housing benefit.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sum was paid in housing benefit in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Roger Evans

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 10 January,Official Report, column 55. I have nothing to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made on 30 November, Official Report, column 1205, concerning the measures we propose to introduce to tackle the rapid growth in housing benefit expenditure.