§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the cost, in the latest year for which figures are available, of introducing an extension period for the payment of income support and jobseeker's allowance mortgage interest, equivalent to the scheme for extended payments of housing benefit and council tax benefit for the newly employed. [5445]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe estimated cost of introducing an extension period for the payment of mortgage interest, in line with current provisions available in both housing benefit and council tax benefit for the newly employed, is £4 million a year.