§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Government will introduce legislation to assist low-income families in buying household insurance. [39764]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThere are no plans to do so. No separate amounts for specific items such as household insurance are included in Income Support rates. However, local authorities and housing associations can, with insurance companies, set up low-cost home contents insurance schemes for their tenants, and a number have done so.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to the Social Fund of replacing possessions stolen from, or damaged in, low-income households with no household insurance, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [39765]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the format requested. However, the total amount paid from the Social Fund in 1997–98 by way of crisis loans to meet urgent need for the replacement of essential household items as a result of fire or flood damage was just under £236,000.