Unemployed Persons (Rent Allowances)

70.

Mr. McElhone
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to arrange that long-term unemployed persons living in municipal houses will have their rent allowance from Social Security paid straight to the local authority.

Mr. Dean
The Supplementary Benefits Commission has power to pay rent allowances direct to a local authority or other landlord in certain circumstances, but this power is only used as a last resort where other methods of securing payment of the rent have failed.