Housing Subsidy Act

HC Deb 10 November 1959 vol 613 cc197-9

44. Mr. C. Royle

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take steps in this Session of Parliament to amend the Housing Subsidy Act to enable local authorities to more easily build accommodation for cases other than slum clearance.

Mr. H. Brooke

Nearly all local authorities are quite able to build houses for letting at reasonable rents without further assistance from the Exchequer, provided that they give the benefit of subsidy only to those tenants who need it, and only to the extent of their need. Special assistance is already available for authorities which cannot provide urgently needed accommodation without charging unreasonably high rents or placing an unreasonable burden on the rates.

Mr. Royle

Is the Minister aware that that Answer is complete baloney? Is he aware that in a city like Salford experience has proved that it is almost economically impossible to build houses for rent for the sick, the overcrowded, and young married couples, because of the concentration on slum clearance under the Act? Will the Minister take some steps to do something about amending what is proving to be a very difficult Act indeed?

Mr. Brooke

In the light of what the hon. Gentleman has said, I strongly advise the Salford City Council to examine carefully the rents it charges on existing houses, as has been done by many local authorities of all political colours.

Mr. P. Williams

If the Minister is to make any alterations at all, will they be more in the nature of speeding up the slum clearance programme, which is direly needed in many of the old industrial areas?

Mr. Brooke

I am anxious to speed up the slum clearance programme. We are already clearing over 60,000 houses a year in England and Wales.

Mr. Bevan

Is the right hon. Gentleman able to assure the House that local authorities share his views that the financial help afforded to them is adequate to enable them to provide additional housing accommodation?

Mr. Brooke

The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that local authorities would never admit that they were receiving sufficient help from the Exchequer. I am quite satisfied that, either by means of revising their rents or by applying to me for the extra discretionary subsidy, local authorities can continue with the necessary house building.

Mr. Bevan

Is it not a fact that at the present time the number of houses under construction by local authorities, apart from slum clearance, is their answer to his view that they have sufficient financial assistance?

Mr. Brooke

If the right hon. Gentleman were familiar with the figures he would know that the number of council houses under construction at the present time is substantially higher than it was a year ago.

Mr. Wilkins

May I extend to the Minister an invitation to come to my constituency and to amplify the statement that he has just made?

Mr. Brooke

I have visited a number of local authorities. I am always trying to extend my knowledge. I went to Salford, where this Question originated, only this summer.