Social Security Policy: Implications of Housing Benefit Proposals

HL Deb 09 January 1996 vol 568 c14WA

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to Lord Lucas' Written Answer of 28 November (H.L. Deb., col. WA 39), whether any increase in rough sleeping is planned for as a result of the measures on housing benefit for the under 25s announced in the Social Security Uprating Statement.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

Under these proposals, housing benefit will continue to meet, in full, rents which are at or below the general level of rents for non self-contained accommodation in the locality. This is the type of accommodation that young people tend to occupy if they have to meet the rent from their own resources. These measures will discourage those claiming housing benefit from taking more expensive accommodation than they would be able to afford if they were not dependent on benefit, but they should not prevent young people from finding suitably priced accommodation.