§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister if she will state the total number of people who are in receipt of 265W housing benefit or mortgage interest relief; if she will break down the total into (a) rent rebate, (b) rate rebate, (c) rent allowance and (d) mortgage interest relief; and if she will also show the total as a percentage of the population this represents in 1979 and 1985.
1979–80* 1985–86* Numbers (millions) Percentage households Numbers (millions) Percentage households Great Britain Rent rebate† 2.6 13 3.9 19 Rate rebate 5.4 27 7.3 35 Rent allowance† 0.7 3 1.2 6 United Kingdom Mortgage interest relief† ‡5.9 29 8.0 38 * Housing benefit information relating to 1979–80 comprises those receiving help under the former DOE rebate schemes and those receiving similar help through supplementary benefit. Housing benefit figures for 1985–86 are provisional. † Recipients of rent rebates/allowances and recipients of mortgage interest relief may also receive rate rebates. ‡ Mortgage interest relief figures for 1979–80 exclude those for option mortgages which are not available.