§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their policy that no one on income support should be subject to deductions amounting to more than 15 per cent. of their benefit; and how many people are at present subject to deductions above that level.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)Social security regulations provide that deductions from income support to repay arrears of housing, gas, electricity and water costs may not exceed three times 5 per cent. of the income support personal allowance for a person aged 25 or over (currently £6.45 a week). Deductions to cover current charges for gas, electricity and water may be made in addition to this limit. Recovery of overpaid benefit is also normally subject to this 15 per cent. limit. In addition social fund officers take account of other deductions from benefit before deciding on repayment terms for social fund loans. Information about the number of people with deductions amounting to more than 15 per cent. of their benefit is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.