To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the policy of her Department is on the payment of housing benefit to Travellers renting an unauthorised pitch in respect of which planning permission has not been granted; and whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on this matter. (294967)

We have not issued any specific guidance on this subject; any claim for housing benefit in these circumstances would be dealt with in the usual way, which would include looking at whether there was a liability for rent.