§ 20. Mr. CLOUGHasked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of cases in which his Department has decided that a non-economic rent is being 1659 charged by local authorities for new dwellings; what action he has taken in these cases; what is the lowest rent and the highest rent charged respectively; and if he will give the names of the places concerned?
§ Dr. ADDISONHouses erected by 30 local authorities are occupied by tenants. The rents obtained—which vary according to the locality and the size of the house—range from 7s. per week (exclusive of rates) in rural areas to 17s. 6d. per week (exclusive of rates) in the neighbourhood of London and the large towns. In no case does the rent obtained represent an economic return on the capital cost. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the Housing Acts contemplate that the loss, arising from the fact that the best rents obtainable may not be sufficient to meet the annual charges, should be borne by the Exchequer, and, to a limited extent, by local authorities.