§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the number of persons on income support who have (i) poll tax arrears for which they are subject to a liability order, (ii) social fund loan repayments, (iii) gas and electricity arrears, (iv) rent arrears and (v) other debt.
§ Miss WiddecombeAt the end of February 1991 there were 36,448 income support claimants with deductions for arrears of community charge. At the end of March 1991, there was an estimated 424,000 income support claimants with deductions for recovery of social fund loans.
Figures for the number of income support claimants with deductions for electricity, gas, rent arrears and other items are contained in table 10 of the "Department of Social Security Income Support Statistics Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1989", a copy of which is in the Library. It is important to note that some of these deductions are for current charges only.