HC Deb 03 March 1980 vol 980 cc93-5W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportion of those initial applicants for rate rebates who do not qualify for a rebate and what are the reasons why initial applicants are not entitled to benefit.

publish the number of starts and completions of wheelchair and mobility housing, respectively, in each quarter of the last two years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Starts and completions figures for wheelchair and mobility housing for the four quarters of 1978 and the first three quarters of 1979 are set out in the table attached. The figures for the fourth quarter of 1979 are not available.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the average amount of rate rebates paid to the following families for the most recent year available (a) a single mother with one child, (b) a single mother with three children, (c) two-parent family with two children, and (d) a two-parent family with four children.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I regret that reliable figures are not available.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish (a) the expenditure on the administration of rate rebates, and (b) the expenditure on rate rebates at current prices for the most recent year for which comparable data is available.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I regret that information in respect of (a) is not available. The expenditure on rate rebates at 1978–79 outturn prices for 1978–79 was £146 million.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the expenditure on rate rebates at current prices for 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977 and 1978.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Following is the available information for England and Wales:

Expenditure on rate rebates at outturn prices £ million
Financial year ending:
March 1966 13
March 1970 14
March 1975 85
March 1977 127
March 1978 140

Note: A more generous rate rebate scheme was introduced in 1974.

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