§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number and value of rebates granted to Manchester ratepayers under the Rating Act, 1966; how this compares with rate relief granted under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964; how the number and value of rebates granted to Manchester ratepayers under the Rating Act, 1966, compare with the figures originally estimated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonIn 1966–67, 10,735 rate rebates were granted in Manchester in the first half-year and 10,942 in the second. The total amount of rebate for the year was £187,350, compared with relief under the 1964 Act of £1,061 for the whole of the three years 1964–65 to 1966–67.
No estimate can be made by the Department as to the number of householders in Manchester who might be eligible for rebate or of the rebates they might secure, since it is impossible to know all the relevant details of householders' incomes and other circumstances. There seems little doubt that more could claim rebate.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number and value of rebates granted under the Rating Act, 1966; how this compares with rate relief granted under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964: how the number and value of rebates granted under the Rating Act. 1966 compare with the figures originally estimated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GreenwoodIn Great Britain in 1966–67, about 975,000 rate rebates were granted in the first half year and 1,035,000 in the second, to a total value256W of £14.2 millions. Relief granted under the 1964 Act over the whole 3 year period 1964–67 was about £230,000. I shall be collecting figures for rate rebates in 1967–68 when the year has ended.
The original estimate in 1965 was that the number of rebate claimants might be about 2 million; this number included about half a million not then seeking national assistance, who subsequently did claim supplementary benefit. Thus it is possible that up to half a million householders entitled to claim rate rebate did not do so. These estimates are necessarily only approximate and the number of those eligible has fallen as incomes and benefits have risen. That is why the qualifying income limits are to be raised later this year.
It remains a matter for concern that a substantial number of householders eligible for rate rebate are still failing to claim it, and I intend to continue my efforts to get the scheme more widely known, especially among tenants paying inclusive rents. I look to the rating authorities to do the same.