HC Deb 15 November 1972 vol 846 cc115-6W
8. Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the legislation which makes a deduction from the needs allowance for each child over the age of 18 years in respect of rent rebate but not in the case of the eldest child in respect of rate rebate.

Mr. Graham Page

There is no provision in the relevant legislation for deductions from either the needs allowances in the rent rebate scheme or the income limits for rate rebates. The hon. Member may have in mind the different ways in which the two schemes take account of non-dependent members of a household, but the rate rebate scheme makes no special provision for eldest children. I have no proposals for amending the rent rebate scheme, but I have under consideration that a new rate rebate scheme might be included in legislation upon local government finance which would be closely aligned with the rent rebate scheme.

Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing how many people have suffered a reduction in rent rebate as a result of the implementation of the Housing Finance Act, 1972.

Mr. Channon

I do not have this information, but I expect the number to be very small.