To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest claimants have had their benefit reduced because of non-dependent charges for those with gross weekly incomes of (a) less than £78, (b) between £78 and £115.99, (c) between £116 and £151.99, (d) between £152 and £199.99 (£152 plus for income support—jobseekees allowance only claimants), (e) between £200 and £249.99 and (f) £250 or more. [10595]
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.Information is not yet available in relation to the income bands requested, which relate to April 1997 benefit rates. The latest information available for housing benefit is that for May 1995 and for income support mortgage interest is that for August 1996. This information is set out in the table and relates to the gross income bands in force at the relevant times.
| align="right">Number | |
| All housing benefit cases with non-dependant deductions May 1995 | 136,000 |
| Number of non-dependant deductions | 140,000 |
| Gross income < £74.00 | 19,000 |
| Gross income £74.00-£110.99 | 26,000 |
| Gross income £ 111.00-£ 144.99 | 32,000 |
| Gross income £145.00 and over | 62,000 |
| Number | |
| All income support mortgage interest cases with non-dependant deductions (August 1996) | 32,000 |
| Number of non-dependant deductions | 4,000 |
| Gross income < £76.00 | 29,000 |
| Gross income £76.00-£113.99 | 4,000 |
| Gross income £ 114.00-£ 149.99 | 4,000 |
| Gross income £150.00 and over | 8,000 |
Notes:
The lowest income band shown in the income support tables includes deductions made at the lowest fixed rate where the non-dependant is on income support or their gross weekly earnings have not been specified.
Sources:
1. Income support quarterly statistical inquiry August 1996.
2. Housing benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample taken at the end of May 1995.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will provide a breakdown of the (a) age, (b) gender, (c) race and (d) household type of claimants who have their housing benefit or income support for mortgage interest reduced because of non-dependent charges. [10594]
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.The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. The latest date information is available for housing benefit is May 1995; for income support it is August 1996. Information on gender and race for housing benefit claimants and on race for income support mortgage interest claimants is not available.
| align="center">All housing benefit recipients with non-dependent deduction—May 1995 | |||||
| Age of claimant | All cases | Lone parent | Single without dependents | Couple with dependents | Couple without dependents |
| All cases | 1301,000 | 184,000 | 32,000 | 62,000 | 24,000 |
| Under 25 | 5,000 | 3,000 | 1,000 | — | — |
| 25 to 59 | 140,000 | 67,000 | 30,000 | 23,000 | 20,000 |
| 60 and over | 157,000 | 114,000 | 1,000 | 38,000 | 4,000 |
| 1 Figure refers to the total number of housing benefit recipients with non-dependants attracting deductions. | |||||
| align="center">All income support mortgage interest recipients with non-dependant deductions—August 1996 | |||||
| Age of claimant | All cases | Lone parent | Single without dependants | Couple with dependants | Couple without dependants |
| All cases | 32,000 | 5,000 | 12,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 |
| Under 25 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 to 59 | 23,000 | 5,000 | 8,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| 60 and over | 9,000 | — | 5,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| align="center">Male income support mortgage interest recipients with non-dependant deductions—August 1996 | |||||
| Age of claimant | All cases | Lone parent | Single without dependants | Couple with dependants | Couple without dependants |
| All cases | 17,000 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 5,000 | 8,000 |
| Under 25 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 to 59 | 12,000 | — | 3,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 |
| 60 and over | 5,000 | — | 1,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| Female income support mortgage interest recipients with non-dependant deductions—August 1996 | |||||
| Age of claimant | All cases | Lone parent | Single without dependants | Couple with dependants | Couple without dependants |
| All cases | 14,000 | 5,000 | 9,000 | — | 1,000 |
| Under 25 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 to 59 | 10,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | — | — |
| 60 and over | 4,000 | — | 4,000 | — | — |
Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand and may not sum due to rounding.
Sources:
1. Income support quarterly statistical inquiry, August 1996.
2. Housing benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries taken at the end of May 1995.