§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what saving will result from reducing the period of absence during which housing benefit is payable from 52 weeks to 13 weeks; and how many claimants will be affected; [36744]
(2) how many housing benefit claimants in each of the last three years were convicted prisoners serving sentences of (a) less than 13 weeks, (b) between 13 and 52 weeks and (c) more than 52 weeks. [36746]
§ Mr. Roger EvansWe estimate that up to 10,000 claimants a year may be affected by reducing the period of temporary absence for which housing benefit is payable and that this will save up to £10 million. No information is collected on the number of convicted prisoners of housing benefit during the last three years.