§ Mr. Michael Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to remove the minimum 515W amount, currently 20p, for eligibility for rent rebates under the Housing Finance Act; and if he will estimate by how much the total of rebate payments is reduced as a result of this present minimum requirement.
§ Mr. ChannonThe present provisions for a minimum rebate were regarded as reasonable by the local authority associations, and authorities have discretion to reduce or remove the minimum rebate. The Association of Municipal Corporations has recently asked that the minimum rebate should be abolished. I am unable to estimate by how much the total rebates granted has been reduced by the provision for a minimum rebate.