§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to the Exchequer of introducing a mortgage benefit scheme which treated low income homebuyers not on income support in the same way as low income renters are treated under the housing benefit system. [28018]
§ Mr. FieldA mortgage benefit for low income homebuyers not on Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance would cost in the region of £750 million in 1997–98, if it was fully taken-up.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in 1998–99 of paying the full mortgage interest costs of income support recipients from the first day of a claim. [28017]
§ Mr. FieldThe cost of extending help with mortgage interest to all Income Support recipients from the first day of a claim is estimated to be £35 million in 1998–99.
The estimated cost would be £70 million if income based Jobseeker's Allowance recipients were included.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the saving in public expenditure in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01 if income support assistance with mortgage interest costs were not available until (i) 12 months and (ii) 18 months, into an income support claim. [28016]
628W
§ Mr. FieldThe information requested is set out in the table.
Estimated savings in public expenditure from making income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance assistance with mortgage costs unavailable to any borrower until 12 or 18 months into a claim £ million Cash prices 12 months 18 months 1998–99 40 40 1999–00 100 155 2000–01 100 170 Notes:
1. The measures apply to all claimants, including those exempt from the current nine month waiting period.
2. There is no knock-on impact on Housing Benefit expenditure (for example as a result of increase re-possessions).
3. All cases where the claim is received before April 1998 are treated under current rules.
4. All figures rounded to the nearest five million.