§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide Government grants for 100 per cent. of the cost of rate rebate schemes in those areas where his reduction of the domestic rate subsidy has created additional increases in the rates of more than 10 per cent.
§ Mr. CroslandThe domestic element of the rate support grant has been increased everywhere in England from 6p to 13p in the pound.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of ratepayers who will benefit from the rate rebate scheme, and of the anticipated number of ratepayers who will eventually apply.
§ Mr. OakesI estimate that over 4 million ratepayers are eligible and I shall not be satisfied until all who are eligible have applied.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the amount of money spent on publicity for the rate rebate scheme in the local Press, the national Press, and radio and television.
§ Mr. OakesThe following is the information:
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National press … … £93,600 Local press … … £23,400 Radio … … Nil Television … … £70,900 Publications … … £33,500 These sums represent central Government expenditure: local authorities have also publicised the scheme but I cannot quantify their expenditure.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for further publicity of the rate rebate scheme.
§ Mr. OakesA further campaign of posters and newspaper advertising will take place in the late summer at an estimated cost of over £200,000.