HC Deb 22 January 2004 vol 416 cc1413-4W
Mr. Flook

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the(a) rent allowance, (b) council tax benefit and (c) non-housing revenue account rent allowance actual settlement was for Taunton Deane borough council for 2003–04; and what the provisional settlement for each was for 2004–05. [150064]

Maria Eagle

The information is not available.

All funding relating to indirect Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit subsidy will transfer to this Department from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in April 2004. As a result, we have reviewed all current subsidy rates and rules and will pay all Housing benefit and Council Tax Benefit subsidy direct to authorities from April. DWP Circular S9/2003 sets out all the changes in detail and explains the transitional protection measures to be put in place to protect local authorities who may receive less funding under the new rules. A copy of the circular is available in the Library.