To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the cost of introducing a mortgage benefit equivalent to housing benefit for low income owner occupiers in work. [5442]

Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. We will develop a system that supports work, savings and honesty, whilst keeping to our commitment to work within announced spending totals for the first two years of the Government.Various forms of mortgage benefit for low-income owner-occupiers in employment have been suggested. The cost could be up to £1 billion per year, if the benefit was fully taken up.