§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of paying in full the mortgage interest costs of recipients of Income Support and related benefits from the first day of receipt of benefit. [84663]
§ Angela EagleThe estimated cost of paying mortgage interest to working age people, as well as pensioners, from the first day of a benefit claim is £80 million.
Notes:
1. Mortgage interest can be included in Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
2. The costs are based on survey data from the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey and modelled on the Policy Simulation Model which is uprated to 1999–2000 prices and benefit levels.
3. The figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million.