§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what methodology his Department is using to monitor the effects of the housing benefit changes for single people implemented on 7 October; what initial report he has received; and if he will make a statement. [9417]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe Department has asked a representative sample of local authorities to provide it with data specifically related to claims made by single claimants under the age of 25 years, on a quarterly basis. Information relating to the October to December quarter will be processed and analysed when received, and will be published in the usual way. This data together with data from other sources, for example, the rent officers statistics, will be used to assess the impact of the changes.