asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate number of private landlords' tenants receiving rent allowances; what proportion this is of all private landlords' tenants; and what proportion this is approximately of those entitled to receive one.

In April 1974, rent allowances were being received by about 120,000 private unfurnished tenants in England and Wales. This number is estimated to be 8 per cent. of tenants, excluding those occupying accommodation under contracts of service, and those receiving supplementary benefits, and to be 20 to 25 per cent. of those who were eligible to receive allowances. The corresponding estimates for furnished tenants are 12,000, representing 2 per cent. of furnished tenants and about 10 per cent. of the eligible ones.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any studies have been made of or whether he has any information on the number of people entitled to rent rebates and/or rent allowances; and, if so, what is the percentage taken up.

Numbers of people eligible for rent rebates or allowances are estimated using data from the Family Expenditure Survey. Local authorities provided the numbers of tenants receiving rebates or allowances in April 1974 and have been asked for returns for January 1975.The following are the estimates as at April 1974 for England and Wales, excluding tenants who receive supplementary benefits: