§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the provisions in the Housing Finance Act or other housing legislation which govern local authorities taking into account a tenant's entitlement to social security, supplementary or other allowances, even though not claimed, in income levels when a tenant is assessed for rent or rate rebates; and if he will issue guidance to local councils on this matter.
§ Mr. ChannonI know of no legislative position which requires a local authority, in determining the level of a tenant's income for the purposes of its rent or rate rebate schemes, to assume the receipt of benefits to which the tenant may be entitled but which he has 89W not claimed. I do not therefore consider that local authorities require guidance on this point, but I should be glad to look into any case of difficulty.