To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of unemployed people aged over 55 years are disqualified from national insurance unemployment benefit, or have their national insurance benefit abated, because they are in receipt of occupational or personal pensions.
About 15,600, or 8·6 per cent. of unemployed claimants aged 55 or over are affected.
Source: "Half Yearly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants" (UBS3) May 1991—grossed up from 5 per cent. sample.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make provision available to unemployed people aged 55 years or over whose occupational pension is committed to the payment of mortgage interest or other debts, and whose capital is above the limits for income support.
The Government are committed to the policy of helping unemployed people meet their mortgage interest payments through income support where their circumstances qualify them for this benefit. However, we currently have no plans to extend this form of help by means of other social security benefits.