TENS of thousands of pounds is to be pumped into training staff who distribute housing benefit in York.

City of York Council has received a £30,934 share of a £33m Government housing benefit cash injection.

The money will be spent on training in York.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council received £66,900, to be spent on training and Information Technology.

Ryedale District Council received the biggest boost. Part of its £101,168 will be spent on data image processing, involving the scanning in of forms and other documents needed to process a claim.

The Government hopes the extra cash will increase the speed and accuracy with which claims are dealt.

Updated: 11:48 Wednesday, July 16, 2003