To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are now in receipt of income support, paid to them for the purpose of sustaining mortgage repayments.
The information requested is in the table.
| Income support claimants with mortgage interest included in assessment | |
| Year | Total |
| 1989 | 281,000 |
Source: Annual statistical inquiry.
Note: Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total sum paid by his Department in 1990, and each of the preceding five years, to assist claimants with mortgage repayments.
Estimates of figures are given in the table.
| Annual equivalent mortgage interest included in assessment of income support | |
| Year | Total £ million |
| 1989 | 355 |
| 1988 | 285 |
| 1987 | 335 |
| 1986 | 350 |
| 1984 | 220 |
Source: Annual statistical inquiry.
Note:No annual statistical inquiry was undertaken in 1985; data for 1983 are not available. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the highest sum, known to his Department, paid per week to assist any individual claimant with mortgage repayments.
This information is not routinely collected. The 10 highest amounts added in the assessment of income support for mortgage interest identified by a 1 per cent. sample of cases are listed in the table in descending order:
| Weekly amount (£) |
| 176·17 |
| 174·98 |
| 162·26 |
| 160·63 |
| 159·18 |
| 157·58 |
| 157·06 |
| 148·43 |
| 143·31 |
| 142·01 |
Source: Annual Statistical Inquiry, May 1989.