§ 24. Mr. David Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will advise all local housing authorities that in formulating their rent rebate schemes they have absolute discretion to disregard war disablement pensions as assessable income.
§ Mr. ChannonI believe that local authorities understand that they have discretion to disregard war disablement pensions in full, but if the hon. Member has any evidence to the contrary, I will gladly consider it.
§ Mr. StoddartI thank the hon. Gentleman for that answer. It would be useful if he could circularise local authorities about this matter since there is some doubt about it. But I am most anxious that when he publishes his White Paper containing his proposals about rents in future, he will include provision in any rent rebate scheme that local authorities should disregard the whole of war disability pensions.
§ Mr. ChannonI assure the hon. Gentleman that we have this point very much in mind, and I hope that in due course he will not be too disappointed.