§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) of 1 February,Official Report, column 663, regarding the current cost of exempting all those people on income support from paying 20 per cent. of the poll tax.
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 8 May 1991]: To exempt all people on income support from paying 20 per cent. of the community charge, without changing the benefit position of people with incomes above income support levels, would now cost around an estimated £200 million in 1991–92. This estimate assumes that no reductions are made in the income-related benefit levels which were adjusted in April 1989 to include help towards the 20 per cent. contribution at an estimated cost of £500 million.
Source: Modelled using data drawn from 1986, 1987 and 1988 family expenditure surveys.