§ Mr. Sainsburyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures available for the total amount paid in rent allowances per annum, the number of recipients and the proportion of tenants in private rented accommodation in receipt of rent allowances.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe estimated total amount paid in rent allowances in England and Wales in 1975–76 was £48 million. In January 1976, 430,000 private tenants, including those receiving supplementary benefit, were receiving a rent allowance; this number is about one-sixth of all tenants in private rented accommodation.