§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of retirement pensioners received rent rebates in 1971 and in 1980 respectively.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI regret that the information requested is not available for the various local rebate schemes which existed prior to the introduction of the mandatory national rent rebate schemes from October 1972.
Available estimates for England and Wales are for 1975 and 1979 and are as follows:
Tenant heads of household—all types of tenancies—aged 65 or over As percentage of households in tenancies—all types—with heads aged 65 or over 1975 1979 * receiving rent rebates or rent allowances 21 27 † receiving rent rebates, allowances or supplementary benefit 65 67
Households in Local Authority—or New Town—tenancies with heads of household aged 65 or over As percentage of households in local authority—or New Town—tenancies with heads aged 65 or over 1975 1979 * receiving rent rebates 25 30 † receiving rent rebates or supplementary benefit 75 75 Notes: 1. These estimates are based on the General Household Survey. 2. The lines marked * exclude households receiving rent rebates or allowances indirectly with supplementary benefit payments. 3. "All types of tenancies "in this table comprise local authority—including New Town—Housing Association, and privately rented—both unfurnished and furnished—tenancies. 4. The estimates are based on those households which stated they received a rebate etc. plus half of the households who were uncertain whether or not they received a rebate etc.