Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the Homeshare initiative to provide low cost housing for people who are able to provide limited caring duties; and if she will take steps to enaure that such initiatives do not affect either parties eligibility for (a) housing benefit and (b) pension credit.

The Government supports the Homeshare initiative, offering financial and social benefits to both householders and prospective home sharers alike. The potential impact on benefit claims such as Housing Benefit and Pension Credit will depend upon the particular circumstances of the householder and prospective home sharer, which will be kept under review.