§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum income that would enable the following categories to qualify for rate rebates now: (a) a single person under 24 years; (b) a single person 25 years and over; (c) a married couple with no children; (d) a married couple with two dependent chidren; (e) a pensioner couple; and (f) a single pensioner: and what changes he proposes to make to these limits in the context of community charge rebates.
§ Mr. PortilloThere is no specified maximum income level at which people cease to qualify for a rate rebate, and in any individual case this will depend partly on the size of the original rates bill. From 1988, the starting point for. calculating rate rebates in the majority of cases will be the income support "applicable amounts", which will determine the relative level of rebate for the categories specified at a given level of income and a given domestic rates bill. How far above his applicable amount a person's rebate runs out, for a given rates bill, will be determined by the rate "taper". We expect similar arrangements to apply to community charge rebates but the relevant applicable amounts and taper will not be set until nearer the time.