§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the maximum net weekly incomes that would qualify for community charge rebates based, as far as possible, on the provisions of the Social Security Act 1986 and the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 for(a) a single person aged 18 to 24 years, (b) a married couple with two children under 11 years, (c) a pensioner couple aged 60 to 79:ears and (d) any person with capital in excess of £6,000, assuming community charge per adult levels of (i) £151), (ii) £175, (iii) £224, (iv) £250, (v) £275, (vi) £300, ( vii) £348, (viii) £400, (ix) £500, (x) £551 and (xi) £1,000.
§ Mr. Scott[holding answer 11 December 1987]: Decisions have yet to be made as to how community charge rebate entitlement will be calculated in respect of persons whose net incomes are in excess of their income support levels. The hon. Member's question is therefore hypothetical. However, if the procedures set out in the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 for calculating entitlement to rate rebate were to apply, including the 20 per cent. taper and the 50p minimum entitlement, and if the community charge rebate entitlement of partners in a couple were to be calculated by combining their community charge liabilities and assessing their needs and resources jointly, rebates would be available up to the following levels of net income:
Level of community charge (a) Single person aged 18–24 (b) Couple with two children under 11 (c) Pensioner couple aged 60–79 £ £ £ £ (i) 150 40.10 109.67 88.27 (ii) 175 42.06 115.99 92.19 (iii) 224 45.82 121.11 99.71 (iv) 250 47.82 125.11 103.71 (v) 275 49.74 128.95 107.55 (vi) 300 51.66 132.79 111 39 (vii) 348 55.34 140.15 118.75 (viii) 400 59.34 148.15 126.75 (ix) 500 67.06 163.58 142.19 (x) 551 70.98 171.43 150.03 (xi) 1,000 105.50 240.47 219.07 Notes:
1. It has been assumed that a single person aged 18 to 24 is entitled to a £5 earnings disregard and that a couple with two children aged under 11 are entitled to a £10 earnings disregard.
2. Under the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 rebate is not available to persons with capital in excess of £6,000.
3. The applicable amounts that have been used in these calculations are those for 1988–89. The applicable amounts for 1990–91, the year of the introduction of the community charge in England and Wales, will be put to Parliament for approval in the autumn of 1989, and will include compensation towards the minimum community charge payment.