To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of housing benefit payments to tenants of private rented accommodation since the introduction of the latest allowance; and if he will make a statement.

holding answer 20 April 2009

The Local Housing Allowance was rolled out nationally in April 2008 for customers in the deregulated private rented sector who make a new claim for housing benefit and for existing customers who move address. National implementation followed extensive and independent evaluation of the introduction of Local Housing Allowance in nine pathfinder authorities from 2003-04 as well as testing of operational readiness in a further nine pilot areas in 2005.

We are closely monitoring how the scheme is working in practice and have committed to completing a full review over a two year period from the commencement of its roll-out in April 2008.