§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department from the reduction in housing benefit subsidies to 95 per cent. in England in each of the years from 1991–92 to 1997–98. [13308]
§ Mr. Roger EvansUntil 1990–91, local authorities received 97 per cent. as direct subsidy for the majority of their private sector housing benefit expenditure; a further sum of 3.5 per cent. of estimated expenditure being fed into the revenue support grant. When this direct subsidy was reduced to 95 per cent. in 1991–92, the amount funded through the revenue support grant was increased to 5.5 per cent.
The reduction was made to increase overall incentives to improve economy and efficiency and was made on a cost neutral basis.