§ Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the latest number and value of rebates granted to Gateshead ratepayers under the Rating Act, 1966; how this compares with the rate relief granted under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964; to what extent eligible ratepayers are claiming the debate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe latest figure for rebates are as follows:
Period Number of recipients Amount afforded £ October, 1968 to March, 1969 1,568 12,663 No relief was granted to individual ratepayers under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964.
The number of householders eligible for rate rebate depends upon several factors, including their incomes, the size of their rate bills and the extent to which help with rates is being obtained by way of supplementary benefit. Information available about these factors does not enable the number eligible for rebates to be estimated.
§ Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was 312W the total assistance for all purposes paid from national funds to assist the rate income of the County Borough of Gateshead for the years 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, and the estimated amount for 1969–70.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe total Exchequer grants paid to the county borough of Gateshead in aid of rates for the years 1966–67 to 1968–69 were as follows:
£ 1966–67 … … … 3,063,117 1967–68 … … … 3,333,287 1968–69 … … … 3,522,534 Other grants paid to the county borough during the period 1966–67 to 1968–69 were:
Housing Subsidies Capital Grants £ £ 1966–67 … … 304,781 16,009 1967–68 … … 378,685 288,737 1968–69 … … 416,752 802,128 For 1969–70 only the amount of rate support grants is known at present. This was £3,611,438, compared with £3,234,194 in 1968–69, £2,983,952 in 1967–68, and corresponding grants for 1966–67 amounting to £2,759,014.