asked the Minister for the Environment the manner in which the following categories of personnel are assessed for differential rent purposes in local authority houses: (i) civilian employees attached to the transport fleet, Haulbowline, (ii) Naval Service personnel, (iii) civilian chefs employed in Casement aerodrome, (iv) Army cooks, (v) general civil service grades; and if he will confirm that some are assessed on their basic earnings while others are assessed on their gross earnings, including various allowances, with a breakdown of the categories assessed under each method.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Differential Rents.
204.
The assessment of differential rents of local authority dwellings in accordance with the terms of the national differential rents schemes is a matter for each local authority concerned. The schemes are national scheme and apply uniformly throughout the country.
The income to be taken into account for differential rent purposes in the case of employed tenants is basic income less income tax and pay-related social insurance appropriate to that income. Such income is, in general, the normal weekly rate of remuneration exclusive of shift allowances, bonus and overtime payments and as such should apply to the various categories of workers referred to by the Deputy.