HC Deb 25 April 1967 vol 745 cc1301-2
11. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities now operate schemes in respect of rents which concentrate subsidies on those who need them; how many local authorities operate no such schemes; and what steps he is taking to secure that effective schemes for this purpose are operated by all local authorities.

Mr. Greenwood

I would refer the right hon. Member to the details of rent rebate schemes contained in Housing Statistics 1965–66 published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. I am consulting the local authority associations on the need to issue fresh guidance to local authorities on rent rebate schemes.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that it is now two years since his predecessor's White Paper urged action upon local authorities to this end? In view of the large sums of public money, by way of subsidy which the right hon. Gentleman is responsible for channelling, is it not necessary for him to press local authorities hard, even though the number of them requiring such pressure has been conspicuously reduced as a result of the events of the last few days?

Mr. Greenwood

We have had a working party at officer level considering this question. Its report is now available, and I hope to discuss it with the elected representatives of the local authority associations in the near future. As the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, we shall shortly be having a debate on the matter in the House, when the Housing Subsidies Bill comes back from another place.

Mr. Christopher Price

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that rent rebate schemes are fundamentally undesirable things, and are only temporary stop-gaps until we can put into force reasonable minimum wage legislation and bring pensions up to their proper level?

Mr. Greenwood

I cannot accept that. There are rent rebate schemes and rent rebate schemes. Some of those operated by local authorities are little more than travesties of rent rebate schemes. There is no reason why properly thought out and properly prepared rent rebate schemes should not be a great act of social justice.