§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total estimated expenditure was146W on Housing Benefit in Scotland in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000, for (i) public sector tenants, (ii) housing association tenants and (iii) other private sector tenants. [122089]
§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
Total Housing Benefit expenditure in Scotland for public sector tenants, housing association tenants and other private sector tenants £ million 1998–99 1999–2000 Local authority tenants 700 709 Registered social landlord tenants 167 188 Private rented sector tenants 167 163 Total Housing Benefit 1,033 1,060 Note:
The figures for 1998–99 are an estimate and those for 1999–2000 are based on the latest forecast.
§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99, the gross expenditure on (i) rent allowances and (ii) rent rebates for each local authority in Scotland. [122088]
§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
147W
Gross expenditure on rent allowances and rent rebates for each local authority in Scotland £000 Local authority Rent allowance expenditure Rent rebate expenditure 1996–97 Aberdeen 8,085 16,176 Aberdeenshire 6,213 10,432 Angus 4,795 5,677 Argyll-Bute 6,439 6,728 Clackmannanshire 1,699 5,269 Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 817 2,391 Dumfries and Galloway 8,250 13,371 Dundee 14,621 27,654 East Ayrshire 4,380 13,929 East Dunbartonshire 2,635 5,117 East Lothian 5,310 7,024 East Renfrewshire 2,653 3,675 Edinburgh 48,826 50,486 Falkirk 4,409 15,078 Fife 16,406 35,550 Glasgow 75,549 164,076 Highland 10,440 19,617 Inverclyde 4,798 12,865 Midlothian 5,341 3,679 Moray 3,836 5,019 North Ayrshire 6,994 15,896 North Lanarkshire 10,096 47,042 Orkney 1,074 881 Perth and Kinross 6,999 6,834 Renfrewshire 8,130 22,295 Scottish Borders 6,384 5,413 Shetland 306 1,504 South Ayrshire 6,033 12,346 South Lanarkshire 9,389 39,587 Stirling 2,801 9,404 West Dunbartonshire 3,875 16,205 West Lothian 8,222 11,790 Cumbernauld1 0 1,819 Irvine1 0 1,653 Livingston1 26 3,009 Scottish Homes 358 41,134
148W
Gross expenditure on rent allowances and rent rebates for each local authority in Scotland £000 Local authority Rent allowance expenditure Rent rebate expenditure 1997–98 Aberdeen 7,404 17,421 Aberdeenshire 6,045 10,684 Angus 6,257 6,171 Argyll-Bute 5,650 6,894 Clackmannanshire 1,921 5,408 Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 808 2,492 Dumfries and Galloway 8,806 13,075 Dundee 17,181 30,072 East Ayrshire 5,573 14,786 East Dunbartonshire 2,247 5,557 East Lothian 4,991 7,395 East Renfrewshire 2,807 3,830 Edinburgh 47,593 55,280 Falkirk 4,675 17,643 Fife 17,933 38,334 Glasgow 78,171 174,654 Highland 10,242 21,009 Inverclyde 6,450 14,211 Midlothian 5,783 4,156 Moray 3,898 5,142 North Ayrshire 8,054 17,359 North Lanarkshire 10,801 50,268 Orkney 975 871 Perth and Kinross 7,190 7,257 Renfrewshire 8,931 24,913 Scottish Borders 6,377 5,692 Shetland 282 1,572 South Ayrshire 6,023 13,550 South Lanarkshire 10,018 44,003 Stirling 2,716 8,986 West Dunbartonshire 4,339 16,457 West Lothian 9,785 15,593 Cumbernauld1 — — Irvine1 — — Livingston1 — — Scottish Homes 0 33,145 1998–99 Aberdeen 7,250 20,372 Aberdeenshire 6,028 10,670 Angus 6,318 6,562 Argyll-Bute 6,638 7,241 Clackmannanshire 3,144 5,546 Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 686 2,390 Dumfries and Galloway 8,945 12,823 Dundee 19,334 29,911 East Ayrshire 6,265 16,055 East Dunbartonshire 2,411 5,807 East Lothian 5,195 7,862 East Renfrewshire 2,770 3,936 Edinburgh 45,229 55,264 Falkirk 2— 2— Fife 18,716 39,517 Glasgow 79,115 177,905 Highland 9,832 21,083 Inverclyde 6,472 14,983 Midlothian 5,894 4,434 Moray 4,136 5,229 North Ayrshire 8,652 18,189 North Lanarkshire 11,556 51,860 Orkney 994 832 Perth and Kinross 7,278 7,199 Renfrewshire 13,144 25,637 Scottish Borders 6,827 5,872 Shetland 281 1,734 South Ayrshire 6,389 12,762 South Lanarkshire 10,663 46,490 Stirling 2,565 8,964 West Dunbartonshire 4,425 16,314 West Lothian 10,742 17,394 Cumbernauld1 — —
Gross expenditure on rent allowances and rent rebates for each local authority in Scotland £000 Local authority Rent allowance expenditure Rent rebate expenditure Irvine1 — — Livingston1 — — Scottish Homes 0 23,225 1No data available for Falkirk for 1998–99 2These authorities ceased to exist from 1997–98. Cumbernauld was absorbed into North Lanarkshire, Irvine into North Ayrshire and Livingston into West Lothian
§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what account he will take in his reform of Housing Benefits of the differences between the English and Scottish housing systems; what plans he has to ensure that(a) tenants on the lowest incomes and (b) vulnerable households do not suffer financial loss from any changes to the Housing Benefit system; and what measures he plans to ensure that changes to Housing Benefit take account of other benefit and social policy reforms. [122086]
§ Angela EagleIn our recent Housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home For All" we acknowledge the importance of making sure that Housing Benefit and housing policies work together, and that the Government are sensitive to the housing policy aims and objectives of the devolved administrations.
Housing Benefit provides valuable support so that those with low incomes can meet their rent. A basic principle of any reform is that those who are most in need should continue to be able to afford reasonable rents.
We are determined to modernise Housing Benefit to improve customer service, tackle fraud and error and improve incentives to work. The Housing Green Paper contains proposals and ideas to reform Housing Benefit, and seeks the views of interested parties by 31 July 2000. We will take these views into account as we continue to work to improve Housing Benefit.