§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect on public revenues in 1996–97 and 1997–98 of extending the assistance with mortgage interest payments currently available under704W income support to people in work whose incomes would qualify them for housing benefit if they were in rented accommodation. [18230]
§ Mr. Roger EvansEntitlement to housing benefit is dependent not only on income but on eligible rent. Without information equivalent to eligible rents for the owner-occupied sector it is not possible to make such an estimate. The necessary information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.