§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who are eligible for a rebate of the community charge will not receive the rebate because it falls under the minimum amount payable; and what is the total sum involved.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding answer 24 January 1990]The most recent estimates for Great Britain for 1990–91 suggest that 130,000 benefit units or 170,000 individuals will be eligible for community charge benefit but not receive benefit because it falls under the minimum amount payable. The sum involved is about £1.5 million. These figures compare with current estimates of an expected caseload in Great Britain of some 7.9 million benefit units and 9.75 million individuals, with a total cost to central Government, in terms of community charge benefit, of £1.75 billion.