§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be(a) the overall varying and (b) benefit to the Exchequer for 1989–90 from calculating benefit increases on the retail prices index calculated without the inclusion of mortgage interest payments.
§ Mr. Scott[holding answer 6 December 1988]: Between September 1987 and September 1988 the retail prices index excluding the cost of mortgage interest payments rose by 5.2 per cent. If the April 1989 uprating has been calculated using this figure the cost would have been reduced by around £160 million, as shown in the table:
Benefit £ million Retirement pension - 137 Widows benefit - 6 Unemployment benefit - 6 Invalidity benefit - 26 Attendance allowance - 8 Mobility allowance - 5 Other benefits - 13 Income support + 32 Rent rebate and allowance + 10 Total - 159