§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, column 98, if he will give the number of (a) pensioners, (b) economically inactive single adults and (c) economically inactive single adults with dependants, in receipt of income support in respect of mortgage interest in each standard region and nationally, in each year since 1980.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The tables relate to 1989 and 1990, the latest years for which figures are readily available:
671W
Pensioners Single without dependants Single with dependants 1989 North Eastern 9,000 14,000 9,000 London North 13,000 17,000 7,000 South Western 7,000 7,000 7,000 Wales 6,000 8,000 5,000 Midlands 12,000 15,000 9,000 North Western 11,000 15,000 12,000 Scotland 4,000 6,000 3,000 London South 11,000 13,000 8,000 Total 73,000 95,000 59,000
Pensioners Single without dependants Single with dependants 1990 North Eastern 11,000 14,000 9,000 London North 15,000 19,000 12,000 South Western 8,000 9,000 12,000 Wales 9,000 9,000 4,000 Midlands 14,000 16,000 11,000 North Western 11,000 15,000 11,000 Scotland 4,000 6,000 3,000 London South 14,000 18,000 13,000 Total 86,000 107,000 68,000 Notes:
1. The figures for pensioners are for all pensioners whether or not they have part time earnings.
2. The figures for single adults do not include part-time earnings.
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand; for this reason the sum of individual entries does not always equal the total given.
Source:
Annual Statistical Enquiries 1989 and 1990.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total value of payments in respect of income support for mortgage interest in each standard region and nationally in 1989 and 1990.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested is in the table:
Region Mortgage interest 1989 Mortgage interest 1990 North Eastern 42 54 London North 78 129 South Western 33 52 Wales 22 31 Midlands 45 69 North Western 50 65 Scotland 19 25 London South 63 129 Great Britain 353 554 Notes:
1. Figures represent amounts added in the income support assessment, not actual amounts paid.
2. The figures are in pounds rounded to millions.
3. Due to rounding the sum of the individual amounts for each region does not equal the total for Great Britain for 1989.
Source: Annual Statistical Enquiries 1989 and 1990.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are estimated to be the administration costs of paying mortgage interest payments for home owners on income support directly to the mortgage lenders.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe estimated costs connected with the Social Security (Mortgage Interest Payments) Bill are set out in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Bill which was introduced on 23 January.