HC Deb 16 July 1998 vol 316 cc290-1W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to equalise the rate of housing benefit for all tenures. [50053]

Mr. Keith Bradley

We have no plans to introduce a single rate of Housing Benefit across all tenures. The current system is based on tenants' actual rents. Housing Benefit can cover up to the full reasonable rent for tenants on low incomes in every tenure.

Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will assess the advantages of extending the period in which the NHB-1-EP form has to be completed and returned for the applicant to qualify for the extended payment to be awarded. [50381]

Mr. Keith Bradley

As the Welfare Reform Green Paper makes clear, we are currently looking at a range of proposals for improving the work incentives offered by Housing Benefit. We are examining a number of ways of improving the way in which people receive support with their housing both during the transition into work and once in work. Working families tax credit and Housing Benefit together will improve the financial position of many people in work. It is vital that all welfare support, including Housing Benefit for people in work, is accessible, understandable and delivered in an efficient manner.

Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for a housing benefit extended payment were made in the last year; and how many were successful. [50373]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The information is set out in the table.

Housing benefit extended payments—Great Britain 1997
Provisional Number
Total extended payment applications 163,000
Total successful applications 140,000
Percentage of successful applications 85

Notes:

1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand

2. Figures refer to a benefit unit which may be a single person or a couple

Source:

Local Authority Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit quarterly Administration data returns January 1997 to December 1997

Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what monitoring her Department conducts to establish the degree of slippage between the number of NHB-1-EP application forms(a) issued and (b) returned. [50382]

Mr. Keith Bradley

There are no records kept of the numbers of extended payment application forms (NHB 1 EP) issued to potential applicants. The forms are readily available at local Benefits Agency offices, Employment Services' Jobcentres and some local authority offices.