§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total gross revenue from housing association rents in the last year; and what proportion of this was met by housing benefit. [20747]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe available information is as follows. In 1995–96, gross revenue from housing association rents in respect of housing associations registered in Scotland is estimated by Scottish Homes to have been £180 million. The Department of Social Security, which has responsibility for housing benefit, estimates that in the same year tenants of housing associations in Scotland—whether registered or not—received in total around £78 million of housing benefit.