HC Deb 20 May 1999 vol 331 cc429-30W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many local authorities(a) do and (b) do not disregard the whole amount of war widows' pensions and war disablement pensions for the purpose of housing benefit; [84559]

(2) if he will estimate the additional cost to (a) central Government and (b) local authorities, if every local authority disregarded the whole amount of war widows' pensions and war disablement pensions for the purposes of housing benefit. [84560]

Angela Eagle

The additional cost to central Government of a full disregard, on a statutory basis, of War Widows Pension and War Disablement Pension in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is estimated to be in the region of £70 million a year.

Information on discretionary local schemes for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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