HC Deb 16 July 1979 vol 970 cc374-6W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures for each year since the schemes started, showing the total number of recipients of rent rebates and allowances, and of rate rebates, and distinguishing between recipients in full-time work and those dependent on social security.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The latest available information is as follows:

RENT REBATES, RENT ALLOWANCES AND RATE REBATES NUMBERS GRANTED IN ENGLAND AND WALES
(Thousands)
Rent assistance—direct recipients Rent assistance—direct recipients Rate Rebates (all classes of recipients)
(Mainly tenants not receiving supplementary benefit) (Tenants receiving supplementary benefit)
Date Rent Rent Financial year Rent Rent
Rebates Allowances ending Rebates Allowances
March 1967 … … — — 896
March 1968 … … 360 — March 1968 … … — — 786
March 1969 … … 350 — March 1969 … … — — 792
March 1970 … … 350 — March 1970 … … — — 808
March 1971 … … 350 — March 1971 … … — — 795
March 1972 … … 270 — March 1972 … … — — 806
March 1973 … … — — 905
May 1973 … … 1,600 130 March 1974 … … — — 910
April 1974 … … 840 130 March 1975 … … 950 190 2,300
March 1975 … … 870 160 March 1976 … … 930 210 2,580
April 1976 … … 970 200 March 1977 … … 1,030 380 2,670
April 1977 … … 1,000 210 March 1978 … … 1,070 370 2,700
April 1978 … … 995 210 March 1979 … … 1,100 350 N.A.
April 1979 … … 975 200
It is estimated that in 1978 about 15 per cent. of direct recipients of rent rebates and rent allowances and about 15 per cent, of rate rebate recipients were working full-time. The work required to estimate these proportions for the previous years would not be justified.
Notes:
1. The estimates for indirect recipients cover only those tenants for whom local authorities have since April 1974 reimbursed DHSS in respect of the rent rebate—allowance element of the supplementary benefit payment. The estimate for direct recipients at May 1973 figures includes tenants who were on supplementary benefit but who at that time received rent rebates—allowances separately from their 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 intorduced in 1974.
4. Householders on supplementary benefit do not qualify for rate rebates either directly or indirectly.

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