§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of claimants eligible for but not claiming a rate rebate; on what basis his Department's calculation is made; what is the total value of the unclaimed rebate; and what are the corresponding figures in the past five years
§ Mr. Guy BarnettI estimate the number of householders who were eligible for rate rebates but who did not claim to be about 1.3 million for 1974–75 and 1.17 million for 1975–76.
These figures are derived from an estimate of the numbers eligible for rebate based on the, Family Expenditure Survey and from returns by local authorities of 508W the number of rebates granted. I have no reliable basis for estimating the amount unclaimed.
Similar information for the former rate rebate scheme which operated until 1974 is not available.