§ Mr. Robert Howarthasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many people have claimed rate relief and what was the amount they have re- 62W ceived annually in the County Borough of Bolton since 1963 up to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThere was no scheme for rate relief before 1964. The Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, enabled rating authorities to afford relief to house-holders suffering hardship because of rate increases after 1962–63. Theamounts of relief granted by Bolton County Borough and the number of ratepayers who received it are as follows:
year Number of recipients Amount of relief 1964–65 134 £298 1965–66 91 £216 No relief was given under this Act in Bolton after 1965–66. The Rating Act. 1966. provided for rate rebates for domestic ratepayers with low incomes. The amount of rebate granted in Bolton and the number of recipients are as follows;
Number of recipients Year Amount of rebate 1st half year 2nd half year Average amount of rebate £ £ s. 1966–67 35,299 3,635 3,856 9 8 1967–68 29,941 2,946 2,938 10 4 1968–69 31,451 2,917 3,143 10 8