§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the cost of rate rebates in Scotland in each year since 1978–79, including and excluding rebates payable with supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. AncramThe information relating to rate rebates paid to recipients and non-recipients of supplementary benefit is in the following table:
Year Rate Rebates granted to non-recipients of supplementary benefit (Prior to Housing Benefit) Rate Rebates granted to recipients of supplementary benefit (under Housing Benefit) £ million Total 1978–79 21.4 — 21.4 1979–80 24.5 — 24.5 1980–81 34.0 — 34.0 1981–82 53.6 — 53.6 1982–83 62.5 14.7 77.2 1983–84* 68.4 65.7 134.1 * (under Housing Benefit). Note: Up to November 1982—for council tenants—and April 1983—all other recipients—supplementary benefit payments took account of rates payable but did not specify any "rate rebate element" No information is available on the rates covered by supplementary benefit payments. After these dates rate rebates were granted separately from supplementary benefit under the housing benefit scheme.