§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Mr. Austin) of 14 November 1997,Official Report, columns 698–99, if he will recalculate the figures on the gross cost of reducing local authority rents taking into account the benefit and tax changes made in the Budget. [36356]
§ Mr. RaynsfordNot yet. My previous reply was based on calculations derived from LAMOD, the Department's model for estimating the public expenditure effects of a change in guideline rent policy for local authorities. The model uses a Housing Benefit Ready Reckoner, which will be updated in due course to reflect the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposals for tax and benefit changes. We would not expect these changes to have a significant effect on the figures in my previous reply.