§ Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
§ Mr. ReynoldsI welcome the Clause because I believe that local authorities who have to carry out work on properties owned by them will regard it as a great improvement in helping them to meet the loss incurred in such work. It will replace the existing arrangements under the Acts of 1949 and 1954 when the Exchequer met 75 per cent. of the loss incurred by the council. This system led to considerable differences of opinion as to the calculation of the actual loss.
The proposal in the Clause is in rather different wording from that of previous provisions, and when I first read it I thought it meant a reduction in grant. I am satisfied with the result, now that I can understand the wording. In slightly different terms, it is a proposal, carrying the same amount of money, which was set out by the Labour Party in its housing policy"Homes of the Future," published about two years ago. I am glad that the Minister has accepted that suggestion and has brought it forward.
I am not happy about the breakdown of the £300 in subsection (3), although that is exactly double the sum provided under an earlier Clause. I do not know on what evidence the Minister considers £150 as necessary for the installation of a hot water supply. In most cases one would expect it to be done by something like multi-point heaters rather than by the installation of back boilers. I think that £150 is rather a lot of money, especially when compared with only £80 for a water closet and £50 for a fixed bath or shower in a bathroom. Has the Minister based this on examples of cost where local authorities have provided such amenities? The Clause seems to be unfairly weighted in favour of hot water, which could be provided for less than £150 in most instances.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI will examine the point raised by the hon. Gentleman. With great perspicacity he will have perceived that the amounts here are double those in Clause 6. It might have been easier to have a a good discussion on the point on Clause 6. Having passed that Clause, I do not think I can alter these items in Clause 14.
5.30 p.m.
If the hon. Member looks at the Scottish Clauses, he will see that by one or two Government Amendments to be considered later they repeat the English Clauses relating to standard grants. I cannot say that these are exact figures. No one would say that. The Government had to think carefully of what figures to put in, and we thought these reasonable in the light of experience. I must take my stand on that. Unless they are definitely proved unreasonable, I think the Committee would be well advised to leave them as they are.
§ Mr. ReynoldsI shall have a look at the Scottish Amendments to see what they are.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clauses 15 to 18 ordered to stand part of the Bill.