§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 14 May, Official Report, c. 323, on housing rebates, if he will now publish similar figures relating to rate rebates.
§ Mr. KingAbout 2.7 million households in England and Wales received a rate rebate in the financial year 1979–80. Of that number it is estimated that 14 per cent. of heads of households were in paid work, either part-time or full-time. About four million households were entitled to a rate rebate; some 26 per cent. of the heads of these households were in paid work. These estimates are subject to a wide margin of error. I regret that estimates of those in receipt of long or short term national insurance benefits are not available.