HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1067-8W
Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinder scheme in Blackpool; [139583]

(2) if he will make a statement on the Housing Benefit Pathfinder schemes; [139584]

(3) what estimate he has made of the number of housing benefit recipients who will be affected by the introduction of the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinder scheme in Blackpool; [139585]

(4) what guidance his Department has given to local authorities on consultation with local landlords during the operation of the Housing Benefit Pathfinder schemes. [139586]

Mr. Pond

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was launched in Blackpool on 17 November. Blackpool is the first of nine local authority Pathfinders that will operate the Local Housing Allowance over the next two years; the remaining eight authorities will go live between December and February.

For de-regulated private rented sector tenants in Pathfinder areas, benefit will no longer depend on individual rents but will be based on a standard amount for the area and size of household. This will allow tenants to trade between the quality and price of their accommodation.

The LHA will also provide a more transparent, efficient and fairer system. Most tenants will take responsibility for receiving their benefit and paying an appropriate amount of it as rent to their landlord. No claimant will be worse off when the LHA is introduced, and we estimate that in Blackpool around one in three Housing Benefit claimants in the de-regulated private rented sector will benefit financially.

Pathfinder authorities have been encouraged to work closely with landlords and they have all held meetings with local landlords to explain how the LHA will work and the safeguards that have been put in place; however, we have not issued any specific guidance on consultation.

There will be a comprehensive evaluation of LHA Pathfinders, which will include interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data. This is already under way.