§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has carried out into the effect of the proposed change in the definition of full-time work from 24 hours to 16 hours; and if he will state(a) the number of families where the head of the household works between 16 and 24 hours a week who are likely to gain from this proposal and (b) the number of families where the head of the household works from 16 to 24 hours a week where the family will lose as a result of the proposed change.
§ Mr. JackEstimates of the effects of the change in the hours rules in income support and family credit are based on a model derived from research using family expenditure survey data carried out for the Department of Social Security by the Institute of Fiscal Studies.
87WWe estimate that 65,000 families where a parent is currently working between 16 and 24 hours will be able to gain from the extension of the family credit scheme. No one who is working between 16 and 24 hours and is receiving income support at the time of the change next April should lose, because they will either be able to move on to family credit and be better off, or continue to receive income support.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families on income support who currently receive help towards their mortgage costs will be removed from the income support scheme entirely as a result of the proposed change in the definition of full-time work from 24 hours to 16 hours; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeNo family working 16 or more hours a week up to April 1992 will be removed from income support as a result of the change in the remunerative work rule. We expect about 5,000 families with mortgages to move off income support on to family credit and be better off, even after paying their mortgages. All other families will be able to remain on income support and continue to receive help with their mortgages exactly as before.