§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to ensure that the upper limit of housing benefit entitlement may be waived in circumstances where it is more cost-effective for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to pay higher benefit than to pay the costs of temporary accommodation for homeless or A 1 families or individuals. [22354]
§ Mr. MossThere is no upper limit on housing benefit entitlement.
The amount of housing benefit may be restricted where the Northern Ireland Housing Executive considers the dwelling is larger than is reasonably required by the householder and his family, or where the rent is considered unreasonably high compared with that for suitable alternative accommodation.