§ Ms BuckTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what would be the gross and net costs of introducing a flat rate housing allowance to single people under retirement age currently in receipt of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if such an allowance was set at(a) £10, (b) £15, (c) £20, (d) £25 and (e) £30; how many people would be entitled to such an allowance and how many people would be taken off Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit completely in each category (a) to (e); [125413]
(2) if he will estimate the net costs of a flat rate housing allowance, assuming savings on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, if such an allowance was set at (a) £10 per week, (b) £15 per week, (c) £20 per week, (d) £25 per week and (e) £30 per week. [125410]
§ Angela EagleThe information is not available as introducing a flat rate housing allowance would need to be considered in the context of the employment tax credit. As set out in chapter 3 of the Treasury paper "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay—Tax Credits for the 21stCentury", we will extend the principle of the Working Families Tax Credit to people without children. The detailed design parameters of the new credits have yet to be finalised.