Hansard

Rate And Rent Rebates

Volume 897: debated on Thursday 7 August 1975

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Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of rate rebates and rent rebates in the latest year for which the figures are available.

Mr. Armstrong

I estimate that in 1974–75 the costs were as follows:

  • a. Rate rebates—£85 million.
  • b. Rent Rebates and Allowances—£255 million.

    • Mr. Ward

    asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a direction to rating authorities under the Rate Rebate Regulations 1974, Regulation 18, that in assessing the income of applicants, which is derived from rents of property they own, an allowance should be made for essential repairs and insurance incurred in any financial year.

    Mr. Oakes

    The regulation my hon. Friend mentions does not empower me to issue such a direction but rating authorities have discretion to make deductions of this sort in ascertaining the income of applicants for rate rebate purposes.