HC Deb 05 March 1985 vol 74 cc510-1W
Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) at what income level rent rebate would no longer be payable, at 1984–85 need allowance levels, to (a)a single pensioner, (b) a pensioner couple, (c)a family whose head of household is in employment, with one dependent child and (d) a family whose head of household is in employment with two dependent children, who in each case, is paying the average local authority rent in Great Britain, assuming the 21p taper was still in operation;

(2) at what income level rent rebate would no longer be payable, at 1984–85 need allowance levels, to (a)a single pensioner, (b) a pensioner couple, (c)a family whose head of household is in employment, with one dependent child and (d) a family whose head of household is in employment with two dependent children, who in each case, is paying the average local authority rent in Great Britain, assuming the 17p taper was still in operation;

(3) at what income level rent rebate would no longer be payable at 1984–85 need allowance levels, to (a) a single pensioner, (b) a pensioner couple, (c) a family whose head of household is in employment, with one dependent child and (d) a family whose head of household is in employment, with two dependent children, who, in each case, is paying the average local authority rent in Great Britain, assuming the 26p taper was still in operation;

(4) at what income level rent rebate would no longer be payable at 1984–85 need allowance levels, to (a) a single pensioner, (b) a pensioner couple, (c) a family whose head of household is in employment, with one dependent child and (d) a family whose head of household is in employment, with two dependent children, who, in each case, is paying the average local authority rent in Great Britain, at the current 29p taper.

Gross Income (£s) with a taper of
17 per cent. 21 per cent. 26 per cent. 29 per cent.
Single pensioner 92.30 83.46 76.24 73.10
Pensioner couple 113.70 104.86 97.64 94.50
One child family with one earner 142.75 133.91 126.69 123.55
Two child family with one earner 155.60 146.76 139.54 136.40

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be (a) the estimated cost and (b) the estimated gains and losses, by income band, of the introduction of a single taper scheme based on net income and with rent tapers of (i) 35p, (ii) 40p, (iii) 45p and (iv) 50p, and rate tapers of half the rent taper.

Mr. Newton

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.