HC Deb 13 March 1995 vol 256 cc454-5W
Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the cost to the housing benefit bill in Scotland would be of(a) reducing the housing benefit taper to 50 per cent. and (b) increasing the earnings disregard for single people to £10 per week and for couples to £25 per week based upon the 1993–94 distribution.

Mr. Roger Evans

The estimated cost of(a) changing the housing benefit taper to 50 per cent. is £50 million, and (b) changing the earnings disregards to £10 a week for single people and £25 for couples is £15 million.

Notes:

  1. 1. Based on data taken from the 1990–91–92 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1994–95 prices and benefit levels.
  2. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.
  3. 3. For the earnings disregard, disabled couples are assumed to be entitled to the new couples disregard rather than the disabled person's disregard of £15.