§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many owner-occupiers he estimates to have incomes below the level which would qualify them for rent rebates if they were tenants; and how many such owner-occupiers he estimates have housing costs such that they would be eligible for rebates if they were tenants.
§ Mr. FreesonSince rent rebates and allowances are calculated on a combination of income, family circumstances, and rent, there is no absolute maximum income or minimum rent for qualification. The question cannot therefore be answered as put. Straight comparisons between the housing costs of owner-occupiers and tenants are, moreover, very difficult and potentially misleading. But it is estimated that, in addition to the 413,000 owner-occupiers already receiving supplementary benefits, another 300500,000 might also qualify for rent allowances in their present form if mortgage interest—net of tax relief and option mortgage subsidy—and other housing costs incurred by owner-occupiers were to be regarded as rent. This is being taken into account in the current general review of the various means-tested housing assistance schemes.