HC Deb 10 July 1956 vol 556 cc172-3
12. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, as a contribution to achieving stability in prices, he will circularise local authorities advising them to implement a rent-freeze policy for the next 12 months.

Mr. J. Stuart

I sent local authorities a circular on 30th June containing information which I hope will help them when reviewing the rents of their houses, but it is for the local authorities themselves to decide what rents should be charged. I would not feel justified in issuing another circular on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

Mr. Hamilton

Even the right hon. Gentleman would scarcely claim that his circular advocates anything like a rent freeze. Would he not agree that it is not more economically unsound to freeze rents than to freeze the price of goods obtained through the nationalised industries? How can the Government expect wage restraint simply by freezing those prices whilst at the same time the right hon. Gentleman is doing all he can to put up rents?

Mr. Stuart

We discussed this subject this morning in the Scottish Grand Committee. In the figures I can supply to the hon. Member, rent has lagged behind other earnings.

13. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the initial announcement on the major change in policy concerning council house rents was not made in the House of Commons; and whether he will give an assurance that future statements of changes in Governmental policy, in so far as they affect Scotland, will be made initially in the House of Commons.

Mr. J. Stuart

I indicated in the statement which I made in the House on 27th October last that the level of council house rents is low and could without hardship be raised if the available housing subsidies were pooled. The circular which I recently issued to local authorities does not involve any change in this view. It contains information which may be useful to authorities in reviewing and fixing the rents, statutory responsibility for which rests on the authorities themselves. I can certainly assure the hon. Member that statements of important changes in Government policy will continue to be made in Parliament.

Mr. Hamilton

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the circular which he has issued to local authorities is much more than a recommendation? Will he indicate when he announced in this House the recent decision to increase the price of school meals, and the proposal to get on with the Forth road bridge, and when he made similar announcements which are causing considerable concern in the country, and about which Members of Parliament are the last people consulted or informed?

Mr. Stuart

I do not think that this Question deals with school meals, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that in the House. I made a statement on 27th October last year in relation to the announcement about which the hon. Member has questioned me.