Housing Benefit Mr. Raynsford To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would have been the change in expenditure on housing benefit in 1993–94 broken down between (a) council tenants, (b) housing association tenants and (c) private tenants if (i) the taper had been set at 80 per cent., (ii) all earnings disregards had been halved and (iii) all non-dependant deductions had been doubled. Mr. Burt It is not currently possible to disaggregate expenditure on rent allowance between housing association and private sector tenants. Estimated expenditure, for 1993–94, is that housing benefit of £4,920 million will be in respect of council tenants in the form of rent rebates and £3,250 million in respect of housing association tenants and private tenants in the form of rent allowances.If the housing benefit taper were set at 80 per cent., earnings disregards halved and non-dependant deductions doubled, it is estimated that, in 1993–94, expenditure would be £4,565 million in respect of council tenants in the form of rent rebates and £3,020 million in respect of housing association tenants and private tenants in the form of rent allowances. Notes: Source: 1989–90–91 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1993–94 prices and benefit levels. All figures rounded to the nearest £5 million.