HC Deb 02 June 1932 vol 266 cc1310-1
25. Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the Minister of Health if he will institute an inquiry into the financial position of council house tenants under local authorities and give the number of such tenants who are paying economic rents; the number who are not paying economic rents; the average income of the tenants in each category mentioned; and the number of applicants for such houses who have not obtained accommodation hitherto because of their inability to pay the rents demanded?

32. Lord SCONE

asked the Minister of Health whether he will obtain from all appropriate housing authorities a return showing the number of persons occupying premises built under the Exchequer and local rates housing grants who own mechanically-propelled vehicles, in order to test the extent to which the housing subsidy is being enjoyed by persons able to pay economic rentals?

Sir H. YOUNG

The management of houses erected by local authorities is vested in the local authorities themselves, and I should not be justified in incurring, and putting the local authorities to, the expense of such a general inquiry in a matter that is primarily of their own concern. It is, of course, the fact that no tenants of houses provided with State assistance are paying economic rents.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Are many of these houses occupied by members of local authorities themselves and head officials?

Lord SCONE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many houses intended to be occupied by low-paid wage earners are occupied by persons earning £9 or £10 a week and even more?

Sir H. YOUNG

It is, of course, a matter of good policy that these houses should be reserved for the class for which they were intended, but, as I have said, this is a matter the administration of which is within the discretion of local authorities.

Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Was the subsidy from public funds intended by this House to be enjoyed by people well able to buy or hire houses or get them through building societies?

Sir H. YOUNG

That is just what I meant by saying that it was a matter of good policy that houses should be made available for the class for whom they were intended.

Mr. REMER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these houses are occupied by people in possession of motor cars?