§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the number of income support claimants with deductions for(a) electricity debts, (b) gas debts, (c) water debts and (d) social fund loan repayments.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardFigures for the number of income support claimants with deductions for electricity and gas debts are contained in table 10 of the "Department of Social Security Income Support Statistics Annual 801W Statistical Enquiry, May 1988", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Figures are not collected for deductions for water debts. Deductions are not all for debt: some are for current consumption only.
In December 1989 there was a total of 391,000 people making social fund loan repayments for 344,000 budgeting loans and 47,000 crisis loans. These figures relate to applicants who were in receipt of income support when the loan was taken out. Some may since have ceased to be in receipt of income support.