Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Prime Minister announcement on Right to buy scheme extension on 9 June, what assessments he has made of the potential merits of allowing Housing Benefit to be counted towards mortgage costs.

Since the announcement on the 9 June, the department has begun looking at changing welfare rules so that people who receive housing support can use their benefit towards mortgage payments for a new mortgage instead of on rent.

Further consideration of the merits of changing welfare rules to support homeownership will be completed as the policy is developed in line with steers from the new administration.

A full equalities impact assessment will also be carried out in due course, and before any legislation is laid with the House.