HC Deb 17 December 1968 vol 775 cc1148-9
Mr. Hilton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the Prices and Incomes Act, 1968, so as to bring rents of new local authority dwellings within the control provisions of Part III, section 10.

Mr. K. Robinson

The Prices and Incomes Act gives my right hon. Friend power for the duration of the Act to limit increases, in rents of existing houses as part of the Government's prices and incomes policy. While the fixing of rents for new houses raises different issues and in the Government's view must remain the responsibility of local authorities, my right hon. Friend expects authorities to exercise moderation in present circumstances.

Mr. Hilton

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that at the present rate of house building over 200,000 local authority tenancies will be created each year which are not brought within the scope of this Act? Are tenants to be sorted out according to whether they occupy a new or an old flat, or is the principle to be that all tenants ought to be protected under the prices and incomes legislation?

Mr. Robinson

No. The principle was that the House gave power to my right hon. Friend to control rents of existing tenancies. I think the House generally will accept that an existing tenant is in a different position from the prospective tenant of a property which has not yet been let

Mr. Nott

Is the Minister aware that the Government's prices and incomes legislation is a complete fraud from beginning to end, and nowhere more fraudulent than in its relation to council house rents?

Mr. Robinson

The answer to those supplementary questions is No Sir, and No Sir.