§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many ratepayers are now drawing rate rebate; and how many officials he estimates are employed in the administration of these rate rebates;
2 which are the top 10 district councils paying rate rebate; and how many rate rebates they are paying, respectively;
3 how many ratepayers in the Tendring District Council of north-east Essex are drawing rate rebates.
§ Mr. OakesMy Department is currently undertaking a survey of the numbers of people receiving rate rebates for the first six months of this financial year under the new rebate scheme introduced in April. The returns from local authorities are not yet complete.
The number of rate rebates granted by Tendring District Council from 1st April to 30th September 1974 was 9,955.
243WResponsibility for administering the rate rebate scheme rests with individual local authorities and I have no details of the numbers of staff involved.