HC Deb 17 May 2000 vol 350 cc145-8W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total estimated expenditure was 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 Eagle

The 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. Gorrie

To 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 Eagle

The information is in the table.

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

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. Gorrie

To 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 Eagle

In 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.

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