§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money can be earned by the wife of a striker without a corresponding reduction in supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the maximum amount of mortgage repayment allowance payable to the family of a man on strike;
(2) what is the maximum amount of rent allowance payable to the family of a man on strike.
§ Mr. DeanThe amount to be added for a tenant's rent or an owner-occupier's outgoing in the calculation of a claimant's requirements for supplementary benefit purposes is for the Supplementary Benefits Commission to decide in accordance with paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966. Only the interest element of mortgage repayments is taken into account. The considerations taken into account in deciding62W what is a reasonable rent are described in paragraphs 44 to 52 of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook which is available in the Library of the House. I understand that the commission does not specify maximum amounts in either case.