§ 36. Mr. Galbraithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion the average annual rent of local authority houses bears to the gross annual value of such houses.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonApproximately three-quarters.
§ Mr. GalbraithThat is only about 75 per cent. of the gross annual value. Does not the hon. Gentleman think that this is a very low figure for local authority tenants to pay? As most of them could pay the equivalent of the gross value, will he get his right hon. Friend to try to get local authorities to bring their rents up to the gross value figure, so that they will have more money to spend on helping those people who are really in need of houses?
§ Dr. MabonThe statutory obligation, as the hon. Member most assuredly knows, is on local authorities to decide these matters. The wider question of the financial relationship between local authorities and the central Government is under very thorough review but I cannot add anything at the moment.
§ Mr. GalbraithWhen will the result of the review be made public?
§ Dr. MabonI hope that the review will be concluded some time in the spring or early summer, but I cannot say. It is an extraordinarily complex matter which the previous Government did not do much about.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorApart from exceeding the average figure which the hon. Gentleman mentioned, does the hon. Gentleman know that there are many local authorities where the rents are well below that average? Is he in the meantime prepared to take steps to deal with 1548 that, particularly in cities like Glasgow where the average rent is less than half of the total cost of housing?