§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to equalise the arrangements for paying Housing Benefit to council tenants with those for other tenants. [136812]
§ Angela EagleCouncil tenants are paid by rent rebate. This means their Housing Benefit is credited against their rent account held by the council. Those in the private sector are paid by rent allowance. Payment is made by various means, either to the tenant or, in prescribed circumstances, direct to the landlord. The question of how Housing Benefit is paid was visited in the Housing Green Paper. We are currently studying the consultation responses carefully and will take decisions on how to proceed in the light of them. We expect to announce our decisions in due course.