To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of reducing the council tax benefit taper for those in paid work to (i) 15 per cent. and (ii) 10 per cent.; and how many people would be entitled to benefit in each of these cases. [7179]

The information is set out in the table.

Estimated cost of reducing the council tax benefit taper for those in work
Taper	Net cost £ million	Council tax benefit caseload
20 per cent.	—	5,620,000
15 per cent.	40	5,675,000
10 per cent.	120	5,870,000

Estimates based on the Family Expenditure Surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefit levels.Estimates of costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.Estimates of caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5.000.Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.