Local Housing Allowance Danny Alexander To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of single under 25-year-old claimants in the local housing allowance pathfinder areas subject to the shared room rate restriction face a shortfall between their eligible and contractual rent; and what the average size is of that shortfall. Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 7 December 2006]: In February 2006, 69 per cent. of claimants who were single and under 25 years of age in the local housing allowance pathfinders areas subject to the shared room rate restriction faced a shortfall between their eligible and contractual rents. For this group, the average shortfall was £27 per week. Single claimants under the age of 25 in the private rented sector who are living with one or more non-dependants, are in receipt of a severe disability premium or are a care leaver aged under 22 have been excluded from the analysis provided, in line with the definition of those claimants eligible for the share room rate under the local housing allowance. Sarah McCarthy-Fry To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of single claimants under 25 in the local housing allowance pathfinders faced a shortfall between their eligible and contractual rents; and what the average size was of the shortfall they faced (a) at baseline and (b) at 15 months. Mr. Plaskitt At baseline, 68 per cent. of claimants who were single and under 25 years of age in the local housing allowance pathfinder areas faced a shortfall between their eligible and contractual rents. The average shortfall for these claimants was £30 per week. At May 2005,15 months into the local housing allowance evaluation, 69 per cent. of claimants who were single and under 25 years of age in the pathfinder areas faced a shortfall. The average shortfall for these claimants was £27 per week. Note: Those local housing allowance claimants who are single and under 25 years of age but who are living with one or more non-dependants, in receipt of a severe disability premium, or are care leavers aged under 22 years old are excluded from the figures above, as they are not affected by the Shared Room Rate.