asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants have received rent rebates since the implementation of the Housing Finance Act; and how many in the private sector have received rent allowances during the same period.

In May 1973 some three-quarters of a million council tenants, compared with under 300,000 before the Act, and upwards of 50,000 tenants of private unfurnished dwellings, compared with virtually none before the Act, were estimated to be in receipt of rebates and allowances respectively. In addition, approximately 1 million rebates and 300,000 allowances were also provided for tenants on supplementary benefit.