§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the cost to public funds of rate rebates during 1978–79 and 1979–80;
(2) what is the estimated cost to public funds of rate rebates during 1980-81 taking account of the rising numbers eligible;
(3) what is the estimated cost to public funds of rate rebates during 1981–82 taking account of the rising numbers eligible.
§ Mr. KingThe cost to public funds for rate rebates in England and Wales— to the nearest £m— was:
£m 1978–79 146 1979–80 178 1980–81 (estimate) 238 It is too soon to estimate with any accuracy the cost to public funds of rate rebates—in England and Wales—for 1981–82.
Up to 1979–80 the numbers eligible have been fairly steady for some years at about 4 million. We do not yet have any information about the numbers potentially eligible in subsequent years.