HC Deb 01 July 1996 vol 280 cc326-7W
Mr. Rooney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the impact on(a) housing benefit and (b) mortgage interest payments of a benefit sanction for non-compliance with a jobseeker's direction during the two-week and four-week periods under the jobseeker's allowance. [35288]

Mr. Roger Evans

Sanctions will have no effect on housing benefit. Entitlement to mortgage interest payments will depend on whether a jobseeker can demonstrate that he is in hardship. Mortgage interest payments will continue where jobseeker's allowance is awarded under the hardship provision during the sanction.