HC Deb 31 July 1978 vol 955 cc167-8W
Mr. Rossi

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide estimates of (a) the number and proportion of tenants of local authorities and new towns who are pensioners, the amount of rent paid on their behalf by the Supplementary Benefits Commission by rent rebates and the amount they pay themselves, (b) equivalent figures for

RENTS, RENT REBATES AND ALLOWANCES: TENANTS OF PENSIONABLE AGE ENGLAND AND WALES 1976
Local authority, housing association and New Town tenants Private unfurnished tenants
(1) Number of tenants involved 5,190,000 1,470,000
(2) Number of tenants who are of pensionable age 1,440,000 700,000
(3) Total annual direct rent rebates/allowances obtained by tenants of pensionable age £98 million £16 million
(4) Total annual rebated rents paid by tenants of pensionable age who are in receipt of rent rebates/allowances £50 million £10 million

Comparable figures for pensioners receiving supplementary benefit are not available as there is no specific rent component in supplementary benefit payments. However, at August 1976 the rent addition to the scale rates used in calculating supplementary pensions—including general and water rates but after deductions for non-dependants, subtenants, and so on—amounted to £230 million for local authority and new town tenants and £75 million for private and housing association tenants, at annual rates.

It is estimated that some 150,000 owner occupiers of pensionable age are repaying a mortgage. About 50,000 of these receive supplementary benefit. There are also 235,000 outright owners of pensionable age who receive supplementary benefit. For all 285,000 owner occupiers

at each Royal palace together with the basic pay for each grade are shown below. The weekly rates of pay shown include basic pay, supplements, productivity payments and London weighting where appropriate:

tenants of private landlords who are pensioners, and (c) the number of pensioners who are owner-occupiers who are repaying a mortgage.

Mr. Freeson,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th July 1978; Vol. 954, c. 667], gave the following information:

Estimates based on the family expenditure survey of about 6,300 households in England and Wales are as follows:

receiving supplementary pensions, the equivalent of rent addition (covering mortgage interest, rates, housing repairs and insurance) amounts to £38 million.