§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when homebuyers receiving income support will receive an increase in their assistance with mortgage interest to reflect the reduction in MIRAS implemented in April. [40226]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe administration of Income Support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
374WLetter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 30 April 1998:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking when homebuyers receiving Income Support (IS) will receive an increase in their assistance with mortgage interest to reflect the cut in Mortgage Interest Relief At Source (MIRAS) implemented in April.MIRAS was reduced from 15% to 10% with effect from 6 April 1998. IS customers who receive assistance with their mortgages and are eligible for MIRAS automatically received an increase in their benefit from 6 April 1998, in line with the routine uprating of social security benefits.I hope that this clarifies the situation.