To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for (a) housing and (b) council tax benefit have been (i) made and (ii) processed in (A) 2007-08, (B) 2008-09 and (C) 2009-10 to date. (283453)

[holding answer 2 July 2009]: Data are not yet available for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10.

In 2007-08 1,380,865 housing benefit applications and 1,532,535 council tax benefit applications were processed by local authorities.

Source:

Quarterly Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Administration Data.