§ 32. Mr. Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his attention has been called to the proposal of the Monmouthshire County Council to subsidise steelworkers' houses to the extent of £30 a house for sixty years; and, in view of the resultant claim on public funds, what steps he has taken to satisfy himself of the need for this proposal.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe county council does not require my authority to make such a contribution to district councils in the county. I am given to understand that no payment will be made by the county council for any house in respect of which any subsidy from the Exchequer is paid.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIs my right hon. Friend quite happy to see the rents of well-paid steel workers subsidised in part by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and in part by other householders, who are often in much poorer circumstances? Is it not time that he and the Chancellor put their heads together to stop the squandering of public money?
§ Mr. BrookeI do not think that the Chancellor of the Exchequer comes into this matter. I am not aware that there will be any subsidy from the Exchequer in such cases. On the contrary, the money will come from the ratepayers of Monmouthshire. It is the law that county councils can exercise their own discretion in such cases. It seems to be a matter between county councils and their electors.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the case of Monmouthshire there is a subvention from the Treasury to assist the rate fund, so that the Exchequer, public funds and the poorer ratepayers will have to pay the rents of these well-paid steel workers?
§ Mr. BrookeWhether or not the county council is wise in what it is doing, I am not quite clear, but the law gives me no responsibility in the matter.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsSince public money has been invested to a very large extent—without any protest from the benches opposite—in building the steel works at Llanwern, is it not appropriate that some money should be used to provide houses for the workers as well?
§ Mr. BrookeI am not going to commit myself. I believe in local authorities having discretion. Sometimes they use it wisely and sometimes less wisely.