Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 27 February 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 27th February 1986.

Mr. Deakins Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average payment of housing benefit to pensioners receiving supplementary benefit; how much of this is attributable to rates; and by how much this average payment will be reduced as a result of recipients having to meet 20 per cent. of their rates bill out of basic income.

Mr. Major It is estimated that the average payment of housing benefit to pensioners receiving supplementary benefit was about £15 a week in May 1985, the latest date for which information is available. About £4.80 of this was attributable to domestic rates after non-dependant deductions. It is estimated that this figure would be of the order of £1 lower if 20 per cent. of recipients’ domestic rates bills were ineligible for benefit.