HC Deb 02 December 1981 vol 14 cc173-4W
Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pensioners are in receipt of a rent rebate, rate rebate or rent allowance; and how many do not claim the rebates to which they are entitled.

Sir George Young

On the basis of a small sample, it is broadly estimated that in 1980, in England and Wales, the numbers of householders over pensionable age who received rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates were in the order of 700,000, 175,000 and 2,100,000, respectively. It is not known how many of these were State retirement pensioners.

No estimates are readily available of the numbers of such households not taking up rebates to which they are entitled.