§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether local authorities have a duty or a discretionary right to make rent or rate rebates and allowances available to strikers and their families; and how much money was expected in this area in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ArmstrongUnder the Housing Finance Act 1972, local authority and private tenants are entitled to rent rebates and rent allowances respectively from their local authority on an income-related basis and, under the Local Government Act 1974, residential occupiers are similarly entitled to rate rebates. Where a local authority receives an application, they must determine whether the applicant is entitled to benefit according to three main factors: family size, rent and/or rates and estimated weekly income over the period for which a rebate or allowance is granted. Where the applicant is a person who is on strike, the authority still has to estimate his or her weekly income over the rebate or allowance period in accordance with schedule 4 to the 1972 Act and with rate rebate regulations under the 1974 Act.
Information on rebates and allowances paid to people on strike is not available.