§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what instructions he has issued to the Chief Rent Officer in London on the localities used in the determination of housing benefit local reference rents since the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Amendment) Order 2001. [139107]
§ Yvette CooperI have been asked to reply.
The post of "Chief Rent Officer" no longer exists. and both localities and local reference rents are a matter for the Rent Service, which is an Executive Agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. No instructions have been issued to the Rent Service on localities used in the determination of local reference rents since the laying of the 2001 Order.
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many localities were being used in the determination of housing benefit local reference rents in London in November(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [139108]
§ Yvette CooperI have been asked to reply.
There is no record of the numbers of localities used in the determination of local reference rents in these years. Localities are decided by the Rent Officer using definitions in the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order. Localities are influenced by residential property markets, which are fluid. Therefore, any statistical publication will only ever be able to provide a 'snap shot' at any given time.
The Rent Service intends to begin publishing information about local reference rents for England in the late spring of 2004.
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent reports he has received on housing benefit shortfalls experienced by claimants arising from local reference rent restrictions in London. [139111]
§ Mr. PondThe principle of rent restrictions in Housing Benefit is now well established. It ensures that claimants are able to afford reasonably priced rental 1069W accommodation in the locality that they choose to live in, whilst ensuring that the cost to the taxpayer is kept at a reasonable level.
We have not received recently any formal reports on this matter.
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many localities are currently being used by the Rent Service in England to determine local reference rents. [139112]
§ Yvette CooperI have been asked to reply.
There is no on-going record of the numbers of local reference rent localities in England. Localities are influenced by residential properties markets that are fluid. Any statistical publication will only ever be able to give a 'snap shot' at any given time.
However, the Rent Service intends to publish information about local reference rents for England in the late spring of 2004.
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 15 May 2003,Official Report, column 373W, to the hon. Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard), when the Rent Service will begin to publish information about local reference rents for different parts of the country. [139113]
§ Yvette CooperI have been asked to reply.
The Rent Service intends to publish information about local reference rents for England in the late spring of 2004.