HC Deb 03 April 2000 vol 347 c332W
4. Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress he has made in dealing with fraudulent claims for housing benefit. [115866]

Mr. Darling

I wrote to all council chief executives on 6 March warning them to act immediately to remedy weaknesses identified by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.

I am today announcing a further 30 inspections of a range of councils including a number which are not operating all of the Departments anti-fraud initiatives.

If the BFI report to me a local authority's persistent failings I will direct them to achieve the standards I set within a rigorous timescale.

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what percentage the budget for housing benefit has increased in real terms(a) in each year since the introduction of housing benefit and (b) in total since the introduction of housing benefit. [117279]

Angela Eagle

The information is in the table.

Real annual change in expenditure on housing benefit, 1988–89 to 1999–2000, Great Britain
Financial year Percentage increase on previous financial years in real terms
1989–90 6.3
1990–91 11.0
1991–92 18.8
1992–93 17.4
1993–94 13.9
1994–95 8.1
1995–96 4.6
1996–97 1.4
1997–98 -4.4
1998–99 -4.1
1999–2000 (estimated) -0.9
Whole period 95.4

Notes:

  1. 1. Figures represent changes in the total amount of Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances paid to recipients, regardless of the source of funding.
  2. 2. Figures for 1999–2000 are based on estimates that underlie the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.
  3. 3. Expenditure figures have been converted to constant prices (real terms) using the Gross Domestic Product deflator underlying the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.