§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will cause an immediate visit to be made by one of his ministerial colleagues to examine the causes, effects and remedies arising from the current pollution of Falmouth Bay and Falmouth Harbour.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI am aware of the pollution problems to which the hon. Member refers, and share his concern.
The Department is in consultation with the local authorities and I am quite
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COST OF RENT REBATES, RENT ALLOWANCES AND RATE REBATES: ENGLAND AND WALES: FINANCIAL YEARS 1967–68 TO 1978–79 £ million At out turn prices At September 1978 prices Financial year ending Rent rebates Rent allowances Rent rebates Rent rebates Rent allowances Rent rebates March 1968 … … 12 — 12 38 — 38 March 1969 … … 14 — 13 42 — 39 March 1970 … … 15 — 14 43 — 40 March 1971 … … 18 — 15 48 — 40 March 1972 … … 17 — 18 42 — 44 March 1973 … … 77 13 23 176 30 53 March 1974 … … 167 25 28 347 52 58 March 1975 … … 202 33 85 355 58 150 March 1976 … … 223 48 117 315 68 165 March 1977 … … 281 66 127 344 81 156 March 1978 (provisional) … … 356 85 140 383 91 150 March 1979 (estimates) … … 385 89 150–155 It is not possible to provide separate figures for households with and without dependent children. Notes: 1. Included in these figures are rent rebates and rent allowances granted to tenants who received supplementary benefit between 1972 and April 1974; and reimbursement since April 1974 made by local authorities to DHSS in respect of the rent rebate-allowance element of supplementary benefit payment. 2. Mandatory schemes for rent rebates and rent allowances were introduced in 1972 and 1973 respectively. Figures are also quoted for rent rebate schemes previously operated by some local authorities, but are not available before 1967–68. 3. A more generous rate rebate scheme was introduced in 1974 willing to receive a deputation from them in order to ensure the fullest co operation in tackling these problems if they feel this will be of assistance. I will be sending the hon. Member a more detailed letter very shortly.