HC Deb 04 March 1992 vol 205 cc189-90W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants had mortgage interest included in assessment of income support; what was the annual equivalent mortgage interest included in assessment of income support for each year since 1979 for assessments during the first 16 weeks of the claim, and others beyond that period; and what is his estimate of the current number of claimants affected, and the current total amount of mortgage interest included.

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 27 February 1992]: The table gives estimates from 1979 to 1990, the latest year for which information is available:

Year Number of claimants receiving help with mortgage interest (000's) Amount includes in assessments £ million
1979 98
1980 134
1981 196
1982 235
1983 242
1984 277 219
1985 1 1
1986 356 351
1987 334 335

Year Number with half mortgage interest Amount £ Number with full mortgage interest Amount £
1988 38 33 262 253
1989 30 34 251 319
1990 40 71 270 483
Source: Supplementary Benefit/Income Support Statistical Enquiries 1979–1990.
1: No enquiry was undertaken for 1985.