§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the maximum difference in rent and rate rebates obtainable by pensioners and national insurance beneficiaries of identical means between those who are receiving such rebates before 22nd July and those who do not apply until after 285W that date; and if he will publish a table illustrating the different level of rebate available to those two groups at various levels of income.
§ Mr. FreesonAs a temporary exception to the general rule, applicants before 22nd July will, until the needs allowances, or income limits, in the rebate schemes are next raised, be exempted from the reduction in rebates which normally follows any increase in a recipient's income. This reduction, taking rent and rate rebates together, can result in a maximum, constant rate of 33p for each additional pound of income where the whole income is below the needs allowance; and in a constant rate of 23p in the pound where the income is above the needs allowance. Any successful applicant on or after 22nd July will be assessed in the usual way.