§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of the numbers and average amounts of rate rebates granted in 1979–80 in England and Wales, in total and by rating district; what proportion of each tenure group received rate rebate; and if he will estimate the number of householders eligible for a rate rebate but not claiming in that year.
§ Mr. KingThe total number of householders in England and Wales who received rate rebates in the year ended 31 March 1980 was 2.7 million. The average rebate granted was about £66. Lists of these figures for each rating authority are available in the Library. I estimate that the number of households eligible for rate rebates was about 4.0 million and the rate of take-up around 70 per cent. The proportion of each tenure group receiving rebates is shown in the following table:
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Tenure Group Proportion receiving rebates Ratepayers who receive rate demands direcetly from the council (which include all owner occupiers and some private tenates) 12% Local authority tenates 20½% Private tenants paying rates indirectly with rent to the landlord 10% All tenure groups 14½% There has been very little variation in the proportions of each tenure group receiving rebates with the exception of those private tenants paying rates indirectly with rent: in that category there has been an increase from 8½ per cent. to 10 per cent. The Government ran a publicity campaign in February 1980 to encourage a greater take-up this year of both rate rebates and rent allowances in the privately-rented sectors.