asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allow a fixed minimum rent for local authority houses where the tenant is in receipt of invalidity pension.

In accordance with the terms of the Local Authority National Rents Scheme, which has uniform application throughout the country, invalidity pensions are regarded as part of household income in the same manner as other social welfare payments. In these circumstances I am not in a position to authorise a departure from the terms of the scheme on the lines suggested by the Deputy.