§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to public funds of including water rates in the rate rebate scheme.
§ Mr. Whitney[pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1984, c. 375]: The estimated net benefit cost of including water rates in the current rate rebate scheme is about £75 million. It has been assumed that water rates would be added to domestic rates for benefit calculation purposes. The needs allowances currently include an element reflecting 40 per cent. of domestic rates and 100 per cent. of domestic water and sewerage charges. It has therefore been assumed that the needs allowances would be reduced to take only 40 per cent. of average water rates into account.