Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they expect to save in housing benefit payments as the result of requiring local authorities to reduce the rents of council housing.

Estimates of the total benefit savings due to the reductions in social rent announced in the 2015 Summer Budget were presented in the associated policy costings publication.

The rent reduction will apply to both council housing and housing associations, and the estimated savings include Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.

The table below shows the amount of the total benefit savings which relates to Local Authority tenancies. This includes both Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.

Estimated reduction in benefit payments to Local Authority tenants, £millions, cash terms