Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 21 October 1985

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 21st October 1985.

Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the costs of meeting mortgage interest payments for claimants of supplementary benefit, other than the unemployed, breaking these down into one-parent families, the sick and disabled and pensioners, and showing how many persons in each category benefit.

Mr. Major [pursuant to the reply, 13 May 1985,c. 32]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. The best figures available, obtained from the Annual Statistical Enquiry 1983 (a copy of which is in the Library) are given in the table. These show the amounts of mortgage interest included in the assessment of supplementary benefit. No account has been taken of adjustments made in respect of non-dependants or other deductions.

Mortgage Interest Considered in Assessment

Claimant Type | Number | Annual Amount (£ million)

One Parent Families | 35,000 | 21

Sick and Disabled | 15,000 | 9

Pensioners | 39,000 | 10

Others (excluding unemployed) | 12,000 | 5