HC Deb 09 February 1959 vol 599 cc836-9
5. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many old-age pensioners in Salfprd have been granted a National Assistance supplement or an increase in it, and by what total amount, since the Rent Act came into operation.

Miss Edith Pitt

The information asked for is not available, but the National Assistance Board informs me that since the Rent Act came into operation about 2,900 weekly National Assistance grants payable to recipients of all kinds in the area served by the Board's offices in Salford have been increased, by an average of 5s. 11d., to provide for increases in rent under that Act. It is not known how many of these grants are still in payment.

Mr. Allaun

Does the Minister know that the National Assistance Board is paying these subsidies every week to landlords of houses which are wet, old, unhealthy, without a bath or bathroom, and without hot water or even an inside toilet? Will she tell her colleagues in the Cabinet to what extent public money is being paid to private landlords under the Rent Act?

Miss Pitt

Increases under the Rent Act could not be applied unless the houses were put into a proper state of repair.

6. Mr. Baird

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much supplementary grants under the National Assistance Board have increased in Wolverhampton since the introduction of the Rent Act.

Miss Pitt

The information asked for is not available, but the National Assistance Board informs me that since the Rent Act came into operation about 1,300 weekly National Assistance grants payable to recipients of all kinds in the area served by the Board's two offices in Wolverhampton have been increased, by an average of 6s. 4d., to provide for increases in rent under that Act. This area extends beyond the county borough. It is not known how many of these grants are still in payment.

Mr. Baird

Is not this another example where the Government are subsidising private landlords? Is it not a fact that there is grave hardship and poverty among the old people as a result of the introduction of the Rent Act?

Miss Pitt

No, Sir. If rents are to be increased—and Parliament has so enacted—it is surely proper that the statutory Board should accept responsibility for meeting the increase rather than the private landlord, who should be no more expected to provide a subsidised service than is the butcher or the coal merchant.

Mr. Baird

But this is a subsidy to private landlords.

Miss Pitt

No, Sir. It is a proper demand for rent. I wonder whether the hon. Member has ever thought that municipalities increase their rents quite often and that, where necessary, those increases are met by the National Assistance Board.

Mr. Dudley Williams

Will my hon. Friend explain to the dunderheads concerned—

Hon. Members

Order.

Mr. Speaker

"Dunderhead" is a very abusive word. I do not know that it implies any vicious quality, but I think that the hon. Member should use a more polite word.

Mr. Williams

I withdraw the word. Will the Minister explain to those with less mental capacity than normal that this is not a subsidy to landlords but a right and proper subsidy to tenants?

Mr. Baird

I may be a dunderhead, but I am not a stooge of the landlords.

8. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the total of supplementary grants by the National Assistance Board in Newcastle-under-Lyme has been increased since the Rent Act came into operation.

Miss Pitt

The information asked for is not available, but the National Assistance Board informs me that since the Rent Act came into operation about 450 weekly National Assistance grants payable to recipients of all kinds in the area served by the Board's Office in Newcastle-under-Lyme have been increased, by an average of 5s. 2d., to provide for increases in rent under that Act. This area extends beyond the town. It is not known how many of these grants are still in payment.

Mr. Swingler

Is it not a fact that this increased public money which is being paid out in Newcastle-under-Lyme is going straight into the landlords' pockets? Is it not a fact that this is due to the fact that the tenants concerned have inadequate pensions to meet higher rents and that this is due to the Government's policy? Do not the Government therefore stand condemned on both these grounds?

Miss Pitt

I do not follow the hon. Member's reasoning. If the people in his constituency are unable to meet their rents, they can apply to the National Assistance Board for help. These figures prove that the National Assistance Board is providing that help.

Mr. Swingler

But is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Parliament is being asked to vote an increased amount of public money which, due to the Government's policy, is clearly to go straight into the landlords' pockets? That is a fact, is it not?

Miss Pitt

No, Sir. The tenants should enjoy some benefit, because the landlord should put the house in order.

Mr. Swingler

He should.

Miss Pitt

In any event, let us not obscure the issue. If any person's needs increased, because of a higher rent or for any other reason, and he applied to the National Assistance Board, the Board would meet that need up to the standards allowed.