§ 26. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the average cost of interest charges per week for each council dwelling in 1951 and in 1963 for the United Kingdom and for the City of Salford, respectively.
§ Sir K. JosephThe information asked for is not available.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the Minister aware that I am very disappointed that an important figure like that is not available, but, as a layman can work it out himself, is he aware that the figure for interest alone on an average council flat is £2 14s. a week, which is double what it was in 1951?
§ Sir K. JosephThe figure cannot be worked out as simply as that. My Department has a great deal of information on this matter, but the exact information is available only in part and in particular not for most of 1963. Of course, earnings have risen very substantially, subsidies have trebled and where councils are sensible enough to apply rent rebate schemes there is no 793 reason whatever why everyone should not have council house or flat accommodation at reasonable rents.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the subsidy does not equal the increase in interest charges?
§ Sir K. JosephNo, it is not possible to work it out in this way. The subsidy has trebled—the straight ordinary housing subsidy plus the additional subsidies for high building and expensive sites.