HC Deb 23 January 1995 vol 253 cc82-3W
Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the total number of claimants receiving assistance, (b) the average cost per claimant and (c) the total cost of assistance to (i) home owners, (ii) local authority tenants and (iii) private and housing association tenants, in receipt of income support towards their housing costs in each year since 1989.

Mr. Roger Evans

The information is set out in the tables.

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
(i) Home owners
Number of income support cases with mortgage interest included in the assessment 281,000 310,000 411,000 499,000 555,000
Average weekly cost £24.16 £34.32 £44.41 £44.02 £42.17
Implied annual cost £353 million £553 million £949 million £1,143 million £1,217 million
(ii) Local authority tenants
Number of income support cases in local authority housing 1,739,000 1,678,000 1,657,000 1,754,000 1,842,000
Average weekly cost £19.93 £22.74 £26.08 £29.88 £32.23
Implied annual cost £1,802 million £1,984 million £2,247 million £2,725 million £3,087 million
(iii) Private and housing association tenants
Number of income support cases in private housing and housing association 552,000 589,000 673,000 836,000 1,004,000
Average weekly cost £25.48 £31.35 £37.35 £43.20 £48.58
Implied annual cost £731 million £960 million £1,307 million £1,878 million £2,536 million
Sources: Income support statistics annual inquiries May 1989–93; housing benefit management information statistics, annual 1 per cent. sample with income support taken at the end of May in each year given.