§ Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of council house tenants in Wales receive 355W no financial assistance from central Government towards the rent in 1981–82; how this figure compares with the proportion in each of the previous two years; and, on the basis of an average rent increase of £2.50 per week in 1982–83, how he expects this figure to change.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsOn the basis of returns made by local authorities to the Welsh Office it is estimated that the proportions of council tenants in Wales at 31 March 1980 and 31 March 1981 who did not receive a rent rebate, either direct from their local authority or indirectly by way of supplementary benefit from the Department of Health and Social Security, were 54 and 53 per cent. respectively. As from 1 April 1981 responsibility for public expenditure incurred on supplementary benefit payable to local authority tenants passed to the Department of Health and Social Security and the Welsh Office no longer receives information related to this.