asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently claiming rate rebate; how many have been claiming each year since the scheme's inception; and what proportion these are to the total eligible.

The numbers of rate rebates granted in England and Wales in the financial years 1966–67 to 1970–71 were as follows:

1966–67	931,759
1967–68	785,809
1968–69	791,798
1969–70	807,956
1970–71	814,220

Information about the numbers of rebates so far granted by local authorities in the current financial year is not yet available. There are insufficient data to provide a reliable estimate of the number of ratepayers eligible.