§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants were receiving transitional additions in April 1988, 1989 and 1990; how many of these were pensioners; and how many were receiving income support for mortgage interest payments.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe table shows the number of income support claimants receiving normal statutory transitional additions immediately after the introduction of income support in April 1988 and the uprating in April 1989, together with the number of pensioners, and of claimants receiving income support for mortgage interest which are included in those totals. Corresponding figures, but excluding boarders and those living in residential care and nursing homes, immediately after the uprating in April 1990 are estimates based upon the results for 1988 and 1989 and estimated changes since then.
May 1988 May 1989 May 1990 (a) Claimants receiving a transitional addition 1,587,000 497,000 130,000 (b) Claimants included in (a) receiving a pensioner, enhanced pensioner or higher pensioner premium 710,000 241,000 64,000 (c) Claimants included in (a) with housing costs including mortgage interest 138,000 25,000 5,000 These figures are derived from the Annual Statistical Enquiries of May 1988 and May 1989, copies of which are in the Library.