§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of families who were receiving rent rebates and rent allowances as tenants of council houses in Wales during 1980–81; and what is his estimate of the increase in this number as a result of the increased council house rents arising from the reduction of Government housing subsidy.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsOn the basis of local authority returns it is estimated that the numbers of householders in receipt of rent rebates and allowances during 1980–81 were 132,180 and 24,825 respectively. These figures include recipients of rent rebates and allowances paid by the Department of Health and Social Security. Local authorities have not yet been asked to submit their estimates for 1981–82 and it is, therefore, too early for any accurate forecast of the number of recipients to be made centrally.