The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1983-1987 Parliament

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit – 11 March 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Housing Benefit on 11th March 1986.


Mr. Andrew Bowden Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioner households lost all housing benefit as a result of the changes which came into effect in November 1985; and, of these, how many were tenants and how many owner-occupiers.

Mr. Major I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Kirkwood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average delay between claiming, and receiving the first payment of, housing benefit for each year since the system was introduced.

Mr. Major Responsibility for the administration of the housing benefit scheme rests with the individual local authorities. Information about the speed with which claims are processed is not collected centrally.