§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change housing benefit entitlement for those under 25 years of age. [62280]
§ Angela EagleWe are considering all aspects of the Housing Benefit rules as part of our current simplification and improvement review.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each of the measures which limit the rent which may be covered by housing benefit; and if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of removing each one. [62349]
§ Angela EagleThe measures which limit the rent for Housing Benefit purposes are
certain service charges included in the contractual rent which are not generally eligible for Housing Benefit, for example, charges for cleaning, laundry, fuel, meals and personal care and nursing;the range of determinations made by rent officers in respect of most claims from tenants living in the private rented sector; andwhere local authorities consider that the rent is unreasonably high or the accommodation overlarge or the eligible rent is nonetheless too high in respect of a particular case.Due to the number of reasons which could limit the contractual rent, on which data are not held, it is not possible to estimate the cost of removing each one.