HC Deb 31 January 1997 vol 289 cc429-30W
Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 January,Official Report, column 566, how many of the income support for mortgage interest payments were made in error; how many of these were underpayments: and how many underpayments exceeded (a) £5,000, (b) £2,500, (c) £1,000, (d) £500 and (e) £250. [13295]

Mr. Roger Evans

The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Denham, dated 30 January 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to his Answer of 21st January, Official Report, column 566, how many of the Income Support for mortgage interest payments made in error, how many of these were underpayments and how many underpayments exceeded (a) £5,000, (b) £2,500, (c) £1,000, (d) £500 and (e) £250. Of the 308,590 cases in error, 54,635 were underpayments. We do not collect centrally a breakdown of these underpayments and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I hope you find this reply helpful.