HC Deb 23 January 1996 vol 270 cc213-4W
15. Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on the subject of the recent changes to the system of payment of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [8804]

Mr. Roger Evans

We have received a number of representations regarding the changes which came into effect on 2 January. They were the subject of consultation with local authority associations and the Social Security Advisory Committee last year. The outcome of the SSAC consultations was published in Cm 2902 in July 1995.

22. Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has had following the announcement of the change to housing benefit rules. [8812]

Mr. Evans

There have been a number of representations to the Secretary of State on these changes. However, the proposals are still subject to consultation with local authority associations and the Social Security Advisory Committee. The committee's report will be published in March and my response to it will be published in a Command Paper later this year.

25. Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the estimated cost of young people leaving local authority care who will require shared accommodation as a result of changes in housing benefit for the under 25-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [8816]

Mr. Evans

No separate estimate has been made. Under the proposed changes, young people who have been in the care of local authorities are to be treated no differently from other young people living independently.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost of housing benefit paid to homeless families living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in the last year for which figures are available. [9260]

Mr. Evans

The information is not available in the format requested. It is estimated that the cost of housing benefit paid to homeless families housed by local authorities as boarders, in 1994–95, was approximately £9 million.

Notes:
  1. 1. Homeless is defined as those families accepted as homeless by the local authority and placed in accommodation by the local authority and paying rent to the local authority.
  2. 2. Families are defined as single people or couples with children.
  3. 3. Bed-and-breakfast accommodation is not directly identified by departmental statistics; the estimate relates to those counted as boarders—i.e. rent includes an amount for meals.
Source:The annual 1 per cent. sample of housing benefit cases.
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in respect of each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom and for the United Kingdom as a whole his estimate of the total cost to local authorities of administering the new rules on housing benefit introduced in January 1995; and if he will make a statement. [8782]

Mr. Evans

The information is set out in the table and relates to Great Britain only. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for the administration of housing benefit in Northern Ireland.

Estimate of local authorities' administration costs for 1995–96 arising from housing benefit changes introduced January 1996
£ million
England 6.00
Wales 0.25
Scotland 0.75
Total GB 7.01

1. Totals include first year set up costs.

2. Individual figures do not sum because of rounding.