Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 May 2000. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 15 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, If he will make a statement on the operation of the housing benefit system and his proposals for reform. (Failed OPQ).

Answer: Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operation of the Housing Benefit system and his proposals for reform. [120958] Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to reform Housing Benefit. [120966] Angela Eagle: We intend to reform Housing Benefit to improve customer service through a modernised streamlined system, to tackle fraud and error, and to reduce the barriers to work. We have already made significant progress; our Housing Green Paper, currently out for consultation, sets out how we can take this further. We are determined to deal with the weaknesses of the system we inherited from the previous Administration.

Secondary information