§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the future of the Agrement Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonIt is now 13 years since the report of the Gibson Committee, which led to the establishment of the Agrement Board, and the Board itself has nearly completed 12 years' work and has recently issued its 5OOth certificate. It is, however, generally acknowledged that the agreement system has not been able to develop in this country as was
Local Authority Tenants Private Unfurnished Tenants Number receiving rent rebate Percentage take-up of rent rebates Number receiving rent allowance Percentage take-up of rent allowances (a) (b) (a) (b) (000) (000) April 1975 … 870 70–75 — 150 30–35 — October 1975 … 940 75–80 — NA — — January 1976 … 955 75–80 — 180 35–40 — April 1976 … 970 75–80 75–80 190 40–45 45–50 October 1976 … 995 75–80 75–80 190 45–50 50–55 January 1977 … 990 70–75 75–80 190 50–55 55–30 April 1977 … 1,000 75–80 80–85 200 50–55 55–60 October 1977 … 1,005 Not yet available 200 Not yet available Notes: 1. All figures exclude tenants receiving supplementary benefit. 2. The take-up percentage has been calculated in two ways. Column (a) in each category shows the number of tenants in receipt of rent rebates or allowances respectively as a percentage of the total number of tenants eligible in each category, excluding those actually receiving supplementary benefit. Column (b) shows the number of tenants in receipt of rent rebates and allowances respectively as a total of the numbers eligible, excluding those actually receiving supplementary benefit and also eligible non-claimants who would be better off claiming supplementary benefit. This method of expressing take-up is consistent with that used by the Department of Health and Social Security in estimating take-up of supplementary benefit.