HL Deb 14 June 1989 vol 508 cc1507-8WA
Lord Kilmarnock

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the report commissioned by the National AIDS Trust, Housing is a AIDS issue, suggests that some home owners with HIV infection or AIDS and in receipt of income support face homelessness when local offices of the Department of Social Security do not agree to meet their mortgage interest liabilities, and if so whether they plan to take any action.

Lord Skelmersdale

In general income support includes an amount for the interest on a loan taken out to buy or make essential repairs and certain improvements to the home. The amount may be restricted where the costs are excessive—but not if it is considered unreasonable to expect the claimant to move to cheaper accommodation. In particular, account is taken of the health of the claimant and family, and the availability of suitable alternative accommodation in the area. AIDS sufferers are subject to the same rules for income support help with mortgage payments as anyone else. The compilers of the report were unable to find any detailed evidence to support any suggestion that repossessions have resulted from a failure by the department to help with mortgage interest payments.