asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of rent rebates and rent allowances, respectively, in England and Wales in the latest year for which figures are available; what were the numbers of tenants in receipt of each; and how the cost of each was shared between national funds, rates and council rents.

The value of rent rebates and rent allowances granted to tenants in England and Wales in the financial year 1974–75 is estimated to have been £277·4 million at 1975 Public Expenditure Survey prices. The breakdown of this figure between Government subsidies and rate fund contributions is as follows:

	£ million
	Central Government Subsidies	Rate Fund contributions
Rent Rebates:
(a) Local authorities	176·8	46·4
(b) New Towns	5·0	—
Rent Allowances	49·2	—

No part of either rent rebates or rent allowances comes from council rents.The number of tenants in receipt of rent rebates and rent allowances at 31st March 1975 is estimated to have been 1,700,000 and 390,000 respectively.