HC Deb 03 March 1980 vol 980 cc90-2W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the average amount of rent rebate 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) a two-parent family with two children and (d) a two-parent family with four children;

(2) what was the average amount of rent allowances 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) a two-parent family with two children and (d) a two-parent family with four children.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

No reliable estimate can be made.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the reasons for initial applicants for rent rebates not being entitled to benefit;

(2) if he will publish the proportion of those initial applicants for rent rebates who do not qualify for a rebate;

(3) if he will publish the known rate of error in determining both entitlement to benefit and rate of benefit for all rent and rate rebates;

(4) what is the known rate of error in determining both entitlement to benefit and rate of benefit for all rent allowances;

(5) what is the proportion of those initial applicants for rent allowances who do not qualify for an allowance; and what are the reasons why initial applicants are not entitled to benefit.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

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 number of social security benefits received by those receiving rent rebates.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The average number of weekly-calculated social security benefits received by tenants who claim rent rebates direct from councils is about 1.2.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most commonly received social security benefit received by those claiming a rent rebate.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The State retirement pension, for which about 600,000 rent rebate recipients are eligible.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the expenditure on rent rebates at 1977 survey prices and at current prices for 1973, 1975, 1977 and 1978;

(2) if he will publish the expenditure on rent allowances at 1977 survey prices for 1973, 1975, 1977 and 1978.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Following is the information:

ENGLAND ONLY
RENT REBATES
Financial Year 1977 survey prices Outturn prices
£ million £ million
1973–74 261 157
1975–76 282 219
1977–78 321 323
1978–79 317 342

RENT ALLOWANCES
Financial Year 1977 survey prices Outturn prices
£ million £ million
1973–74 41 23
1975–76 54 47
1977–78 79 77
1978–79 76 84

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish (a) the expenditure on the administration of rent rebates and (b) the expenditure on rent rebates at current prices for the most recent year for which comparable data is available;

(2) if he will publish (a) the expenditure on the administration of rent allowance and (b) the expenditure on rent allowances at current prices, for the most recent year for which comparable data is available.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Outturn administration costs in England in 1978–79 were £8 million for rent rebates and £4 million for rent allowances, and outturn expenditure on rent rebates and rent allowances was £342 million and £84 million respectively.