§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of people in regular receipt of rent rebate and allowances and his Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such rebate and allowances; on what basis his Department's calculaion is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.
§ Mr. ArmstrongFollowing is the available information:
RENT REBATES AND ALLOWANCES*: NUMBERS GRANTED, NUMBERS ELIGIBLE AND COSTS ENGLAND AND WALES: 1971–76 NUMBERS GRANTED (thousands) Date Rebates Allowancet† March 1971 … 350 — March 1972 … 270 — May 1973 … 700 48 April 1974 … 840 132 April 1975 … 870 161 April 1976 … 970 203
ESTIMATED NUMBERS ELIGIBLE (thousands) Date Rebates Allowancet† March 1971 … — — March 1972 … — — May 1973 … 1,000 — April 1974 … 1,100–1,200 500–600 April 1975 … 1,100–1,200 400–500 April 1976 … Not available
COST OF SCHEMES (£ million) Financial Year Rebates Allowance† 1970–71 … … 18 — 1971–72 … … 17 — 1972–73 … … 70 5 1973–74 … … 87 11 1974–75 … … 107 17 1975–76 … … 130 29 * Tenants receiving supplementary benefit are excluded. † Numbers of allowances granted and their cost relate to unfurnished and furnished tenancies combined. Estimates of numbers eligible relate to unfurnished tenancies only. The estimates of numbers eligible to receive rebates and allowances are based on analysis of the Family Expenditure Survey data.