§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of how many people were evicted by(a) private landlords and (b) social housing landlords because of local authority delay in paying housing benefit in 2001. [25035]
§ Ms KeebleSuch information is not available centrally. The Department for Work and Pensions is working with local authorities to reduce delays in processing housing benefit claims, including measures to involve landlords in verification of claims and to allow agency staff to determine claims. Draft national performance standards encourage local authorities to co-operate with landlords who are seeking information about the progress of housing benefit claims made by their tenants.