§ Mr. KirkwoodTo 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 EvansThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table:910W
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.