§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the November needs allowance for the rent and rate rebate schemes and any other changes due to be made in the scheme.
§ Mr. ArmstrongMy right hon. Friend, having consulted the Advisory Committee on Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances, proposes to increase the needs allowance by an amount corresponding to the recently announced increases in State retirement pensions and other main social security benefits. He also proposes to increase by a further amount the needs allowance for disabled people, and to give local authorities a measure of discretion to pay backdated rent rebates and rent allowances. I shall let my hon. Friend have a copy of the departmental letter which is shortly to be sent to local authorities so as to forewarn them of the detailed changes proposed.