§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if there will be a rebate for those paying water rates under the proposed community charge legislation.
§ Mr. ScottWhen the community charge rebate scheme is introduced, it will not include rebates in respect of liability for water charges. In setting the levels of income support for April 1988, account was taken of the overall amount spent in supplementary benefit on water charges. This will be carried forward and reflected in community charge rebate thresholds.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if pensioners and low-income families, now on full rate rebates but not claiming supplementary benefit or the new income support, will be eligible for the 80 per cent. community charge rebate.
§ Mr. ScottPeople eligible for income support will be eligible for the maximum community charge rebate of 80 per cent. irrespective of whether they claim income support.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether(a) any rebate on the community charges will be paid separately to the husband and wife and (b) any rebate on the 20 per cent. for which they are liable, will be paid separately to the husband and wife.
§ Mr. ScottThe intention is that in normal circumstances each partner in a couple should receive separate demand notices showing their individual community charge liabilities, and that where the couple is entitled to a rebate the liabilities should be appropriately reduced. The maximum community charge rebate will be 80 per cent. and there will be no rebate on the remaining 20 per cent.