§ Ms Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total figure paid in housing benefits in the last year and the total amount paid in rent and rate rebates for every year since 1976.
§ Dr. BoysonThe total cost of local authority rent rebates and allowances and rate rebates from 1976–77 to 1982–83 was as follows:
Rent rebates £ million
Rent allowances £ million
Rate rebates £ million
1976–77 174 27 148 1977–78 206 39 164 1978–79 207 38 167 1979–80 238 40 201 1980–81 317 48 266 1981–82 490 64 374 1982–83 594 73 445 The cost of housing benefit paid in 1982–83 under the partial start of the new scheme was as follows: 1982–83 350 0 126