§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the final permitted total amount for each Scottish local authority in 1996–97 which can be spent at the discretion of the local authority for private tenants who experience exceptional hardship as a result of their housing benefit entitlement being reduced following a local reference rent or a single room rent determination; and what had been spent by each local authority from this discretionary fund by the end of March. [2536]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has announced her decision to revoke the Regulations, laid by the last Government, that would have reduced the Housing Benefit entitlement for single people aged over 25.
The information requested on Permitted Totals for Scottish local authorities will not be available until the beginning of next year.