§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the level of income support from April 1991 to ensure it does not fall below the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.
395W
§ Miss WiddecombeIt has been reviewed. In his uprating statement of 24 October last year my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced that income-related benefits, including income support, would rise by 8.1 per cent. from next April.
The uprating is based, as usual, on the RPI less housing costs. This is because, for those receiving income support, help with rent is available through housing benefit and help with mortgage interest is available separately within the income support scheme.