§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants are entitled to rent rebate; how many have claimed rent rebate in each of the past three years; how many have been awarded a rent rebate; and how many would be entitled if the November 1981 needs allowance criteria were implemented now on rent rebate applications.
§ Mr. David MitchellA survey carried out by the Housing Executive in March 1981 estimated that 60,700 executive tenants are eligible for rebates. Information on the number of applications received is not available, but the numbers of tenants receiving rebates in the past 3 years is as follows:
Tenants receiving rebates 1978–79 20,419 1979–80 20,687 1980–81 27,533 It is not possible to estimate the number of tenants who would be eligible for rebate if November 1981 needs allowances were introduced, because no decision has been taken on changes in the level of the needs allowance.
In addition to tenants receiving rent rebates, some 56,000 further tenants were receiving rent assistance in supplementary benefits at November 1980.