[holding answer 6 March 2009]: The available information is in the following table.
Housing benefit statistics are not recorded on a monthly basis.
February 2007 May 2007 August 2007 Great Britain 4,039,750 4,031,810 4,040,940 North West 520,300 518,430 518,560 Stockport 14,050 14,150 14,010 Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 5. From February 2007, DWP has been collecting more detailed housing benefit/council tax benefit data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics. However, until the new data have been fully quality assured to National Statistics standards, the most recent summary statistics available are for August 2007. Source: Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system quarterly 100 per cent. case load stock-count taken in February 2007 to August 2007.