5. Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many council tenants in Scotland received rent rebates in 1980 and 1981; and what were the average sums involved.
§ Mr. RifkindIt is estimated that 211, 000 tenants received rent rebates in 1980 and 251, 000 in 1981. The average annual rebate in 1980 was £186 and in 1981 £234.
Mr. BrownDoes the Minister agree that the Government's high rents policy is creating tremendous hardship and misery in Scotland, which is suffering high unemployment and low living standards? Is not that obscene, particularly as the Secretary of State enjoys a house in Edinburgh provided rent free at the taxpayers' expense? Is not that a typical example of the Government's double standards?
§ Mr. RifkindI stress to the hon. Gentleman that the basis of the rent rebate and social security systems is to ensure that any tenant who is having difficulty in paying rent because of low income receives substantial assistance towards that. The figures that I have given the hon. Gentleman show that a significant proportion of Scottish tenants do not pay rent, or that a significant proportion of their rent is paid by the State through the rebate system.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerDoes my hon. Friend agree that authorities such as Perth and Kinross, which adopt a sensible rents policy, benefit substantially from social security payments which they receive from the Government and through the rent rebate scheme, all of which goes into the coffers of the district councils' housing departments and therefore helps council finances in those areas?
§ Mr. RifkindMy hon. Friend is correct. A local authority that charges a realistic rent can do so in the knowledge that its tenants with low incomes will not suffer as a consequence, because the Government, through the rent rebate system, make that good.