§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the future relationship between housing benefit subsidy and rent levels in the public sector. [5047]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyHousing policy and housing benefit policy should not be considered in isolation from each other, and we need to consider the relationship between personal subsidy and "bricks and mortar" subsidy. This Department will be working with the 137W Department of the Environment, Transport and the regions with the aim of developing a housing policy which frees people from the benefit trap and which encourages personal responsibility.
We are examining the financing of local authority housing as part of our Comprehensive Spending Review. This will review all aspects of public expenditure and will see that taxpayers' money is being spent effectively in order to fulfil the Government's manifesto commitments.