§ 7. Mr. Gibsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to take to ease the financial burdens of local authorities on their housing accounts arising from the increasing of the rates of interest to five per cent. by the Public Works Loan Board.
§ 10. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to state the Government's policy in respect of the housing subsidies.
§ 15. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the Association of Municipal Corporations on the subject of housing subsidies.
§ 16 and 17. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he is aware of the increased burdens of local authorities due to increased loan charges; and whether Her Majesty's Government will grant larger housing subsidies to help meet this burden;
12 (2) whether he is aware that the financial burdens of the necessary action for an adequate slum clearance programme under the provisions of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) Act are wholly beyond the available resources of county boroughs in northern industrial areas; and what action he is prepared to take.
§ Mr. SandysI would ask hon. Members to await the statement which I shall be making on this subject later this week.
§ Mr. GibsonIn considering the making of that statement, will the Minister take into account the fact that the raising of the interest rate to 5 per cent. inevitably means a very substantial increase in rates? As the Blue Book on income and expenditure in this country shows that there are 17 million workers whose incomes are less than £10 a week, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the policy of the Government, whatever it may be ultimately, should consider the interests of those for whom the houses are built?
§ Mr. SandysI should be glad of any assistance from the hon. Gentleman in drafting my statement.
§ Sir T. MooreDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that he will have the support, not only of the House, but of the country, in any action he takes to overcome the existing anomalies?
§ Mr. LewisWhen he makes a statement will the Minister also bear in mind that many local authorities, such as my own in West Ham, lost over one-third of the houses in the blitz? People were blitzed out on three, four or five occasions, and the only way by which local authorities can rebuild, and so rehouse the people, particularly in blitzed areas, is by an adequate system of subsidies.