HC Deb 11 February 1958 vol 582 cc186-7
25. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what replies he has received from local authorities to his recent circular on housing the olds; and whether he asked for replies to his request for action.

Mr. H. Brooke

The circular to which I think my hon. Friend is referring. No. 55 of 20th November, 1957, does not ask for replies. Its purpose is to secure action by local authorities, as I think it will, rather than a statement of their intentions.

Dame Irene Ward

Would I be right in assuming that local authorities taking any action towards this very desirable end will not find any obstacles, economic or otherwise, put in their path in providing this very necessary form of housing?

Mr. Brooke

I am extremely anxious that local authorities shall implement Circular No. 55 to the full. Of course, I should not wish them, in doing so, to indulge in unnecessary extravagance of expenditure, but, as is perfectly well known, the local authorities can fulfil their duties under that Circular while at the same time paying due regard to the importance of not wasting money.

28. Mrs. Butler

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what assistance he intends to give to local authorities who implement the suggestion in Circular 55–57 by purchasing properties for the rehousing of elderly people evicted under the Rent Act, 1957.

Mr. H. Brooke

An Exchequer contribution under the Housing Acts of 1949 and 1954 is available for the improvement or conversion of houses purchased by local authorities.

Mrs. Butler

Does the Minister not realise that this Circular does not increase in any way the financial allowance by the Government to local authorities, and is it not monstrous that local authorities should have to carry so much of the loss on conversions when they are merely carrying out the ambulance work left by his most disastrous Act?

Mr. Brooke

For the purposes mentioned in my original Answer, an Exchequer contribution equal to three-quarters of the estimated annual loss which may be incurred by the local authority over a period of 20 years is already available, and I consider that that should be sufficient.

Mr. Gibson

Does the Minister not realise that the capital cost of these conversions for old people, where necessary, is so heavy that it is quite impossible for many authorities, even with the subsidies referred to, effectively to do the job? Will he not, therefore, do something to get the interest charges on the capital costs of these properties reduced?

Mr. Brooke

I have already pointed out to the House that 75 per cent. of the annual loss can be met by the Exchequer.