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65595
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-07-02more like thismore than 2014-07-02
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty on (a) the total housing benefit bill, (b) overcrowding, (c) homelessness and (d) housing mobility. more like this
tabling member constituency Kettering more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Philip Hollobone more like this
uin 203739 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-07-07more like thismore than 2014-07-07
answer text <p /> <p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>(a) The housing benefit bill was expected to rise above £25 billion in 2014/15 (£15 billion for the social rented sector alone) prior to the introduction of the removal of the spare room subsidy.</p><p> </p><p>The Department estimated the policy would achieve savings of £490 million in 2013/14, £525 million in 2014/15 and £560 million in 2015/16.</p><p> </p><p>(b) to (d)</p><p> </p><p>The policy to remove the spare room subsidy introduces not only parity of treatment between the private and social rented sectors, but encourages more effective use of social housing stock. It has reduced the number of households who under-occupy their properties, which has freed up larger homes for those currently on the social housing waiting list who are living in overcrowded conditions. It also encourages social providers to take account of local needs and demographic trends when allocating properties and developing their building programmes. Levels of homelessness acceptances in England have reduced 7 per cent in the last quarter compared to the same period in the previous year. This is 65 per cent lower than the peak in 2003.</p><p>The effects of the policy are being monitored and evaluated over a two-year period from April 2013. Initial findings will be published before recess and the final report in late 2015.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Wirral West more like this
answering member printed Esther McVey more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-07-07T16:14:44.0862766Zmore like thismore than 2014-07-07T16:14:44.0862766Z
answering member
4084
label Biography information for Esther McVey more like this
tabling member
1537
label Biography information for Mr Philip Hollobone remove filter