Exceptional Hardship Payments

HC Deb 20 March 2000 vol 346 cc456-7W

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the budget for the exceptional hardship payment scheme was(a) spent, (b) unspent and (c) retained by local authorities in each year since it was introduced. [115310]

Exceptional hardship payments
£ million
	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Government contribution	2.50	18.25	18.25	20.00	20.00
Amount spent	0.10	3.13	6.42	7.49	1—
Amount unspent	2.40	15.12	11.83	12.51	1—
1 Not yet known

Source:

1995–96 to 1998–99 Housing Benefit Subsidy claim forms from Local Authorities