§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the income support budget is spent annually on meeting interest payments on mortgages. [55653]
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§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
1996–97 1997–98 Expenditure on Income Support Mortgage Interest Payments (£ million) 670 500 Overall Income Support Expenditure (£ million) 14,445 11,995 Percentage of overall Income Support Expenditure spent on Mortgage Interest Payments 4.6 4.2 Notes:
1. Estimates of annual expenditure on Income Support Mortgage Interest payments are based on 5 per cent. sample data taken from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries: May 1996 to February 1998. Estimates are based on amounts of housing requirements payable to claimants with mortgage interest payments, and will therefore include amounts for ground rent and other miscellaneous housing costs, although the majority of the amount is paid for mortgage interest. This provides a more accurate reflection of the help actually provided to claimants under the housing cost rules
2. Figures for overall expenditure are consistent with those set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) White Paper published by the Government on 14 July 1998. The figure for 1997–98 is an estimated outturn. The actual outturn expenditure figure will be available later this year
3. Unemployed claimants receiving Income Support transferred to Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance with effect from October 1996. Figures for 1996–97 include expenditure on Income Support cases up to this date. Estimated expenditure on Jobseeker's Allowance mortgage interest for the rest of 1996–97 is £99 million. Estimated annual expenditure for the year 1997–98 is £144 million
4. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on extending the range of mortgage interest rates to include former building societies not converted to banks for the calculation of support with mortgage interest payments; and if he will make a statement. [55703]
§ Angela EagleInformation relating only to former building societies that have converted to banks is not available. We have received 16 representations from hon. Members, members of the public and national organisations concerning the inclusion of bank mortgage interest rates when calculating benefit entitlement.
§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently receive support from his Department towards their mortgage interest payments. [55705]
§ Angela EagleIn November 1997 there were approximately 351,000 people receiving help with mortgage interest payments. This is the latest available information.