§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the model rent and rate rebate schemes to ensure that lone parents claiming interim child benefit do not suffer a loss of rebate.
§ Mr. ArmstrongNo. It would be anomalous to treat this benefit differently from other similar benefits. But the rebate schemes already take account of the extra needs of these families by special treatment in the needs allowance.