§ 16. Sir H. Harrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants in local authority housing in East Suffolk are currently receiving rebates under the Housing Finance Act 1971.
§ Mr. EyreI do not have a total figure, but inquiries indicate that the number is in line with the national level of about one-third of all council tenants.
§ Sir H. HarrisonDoes my hon. Friend think that this is a final figure, even for a national average, or are there still others who will claim this amount? Does he realise that large numbers of council tenants are most grateful to this Government, who have helped the less fortunate?
§ Mr. EyreI do not think that it is a final figure. Comprehensive information is collected annually by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants, and my hon. and gallant Friend will be glad to hear that the institute will publish data for 1972–73 by the end of the year.
§ Mr. ConcannonWill the Minister also publish figures showing the numbers of tenants who are now paying less rent than before the Act came into being?
§ Mr. EyreTo some extent those figures will be disclosed when the data can be examined, but the two large increases in the value of the rebates this year more than offset any rent increases for the lower paid. Many people are now paying less rent than before.