§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how 501W much of the £578 million spent on rent rebates and of the £83 million spent on rent allowances in 1982–83 went to claimants above and below retirement age, respectively.
§ Sir George YoungI have been asked to reply.
Latest estimates of 1982–83 expenditure, excluding costs of administration, are as follows:
£ million Rent Rebates* Rent Allowances* England and Wales 540 70 Scotland 80 5 Great Britain 620 75 * Excluding assistance to certificated cases under the reformed housing benefit schemes, beginning in late November 1982. From the family expenditure survey sample, it is estimated that in England and Wales during 1982, approximately half of the total of rent rebates and three-quarters of the total of rent allowances were paid to householders of pensionable age.