HC Deb 20 March 1997 vol 292 cc909-10W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale claimed(a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit for each of the past five years for which figures are available. [21527]

Mr. Roger Evans

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table:

Council tax benefit and housing benefit recipients in Scottish Borders
May 1992 May 1993 May 1994 May 1995 May 1996
Council tax benefit 8,440 8,840 8,900 8,860
Housing benefit 7,500 7,620 7,540 7,580 7,710
Roxburgh 3,080 3,100 3,050 3,070
Berwickshire 1,330 1,360 1,340 1,360
Tweeddale 910 940 930 930
Ettrick and Lauderdale 2,170 2,220 2,210 2,220

Source:

Housing Benefit Management Information System 100 per cent. case load counts at the end of May each year.

Notes:

1. Information is by local authority.

2. Benefit recipients may be a single person or a couple.

3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

4. Following local government reorganisation in April 1996, individual district councils were abolished and incorporated within the new Scottish Borders council.

5. Council tax benefit, introduced in April 1993, is the responsibility of Scottish Borders council and district figures are not collected centrally.