Mr. Heiferasked the Minister of Social Security if she will take steps to amend the regulations covering supplementary benefits so that those paying off mortgages can be fully assisted as can people paying rent.
§ Miss HerbisonRepayments of mortgage capital by an owner-occupier buying his house are not the equivalent of rent paid by a tenant to a landlord and I do not think it would be right to treat them as such under the Supplementary Benefits scheme. In the exceptional case the Commission can of course use is discretionary powers to prevent hardship.