§ 19. Mr. Huntasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what financial assistance he will offer to the Greater London Council in order to help it to meet an estimated loss of £1 million resulting from his refusal to allow the Council to proceed with its fair rents scheme.
§ Mr. GreenwoodNone, Sir. Local authorities are not entitled to compensation from national funds for restraint on prices and incomes.
§ Mr. HuntIs the Minister aware that, as a direct result of his meddling interference, the ratepayers of Greater London are now being called upon to find an extra £4,500,000 in the course of the next two years? Is it not financial and social madness to force the G.L.C. to cut the rents of its top income tenants at the expense of the general ratepayers, many of whom are living in far less affluent conditions than some of the G.L.C. tenants?
§ Mr. GreenwoodAs a result of what the hon. Gentleman kindly calls my "meddling interference", the average increase proposed has been reduced from 11s. 7d. to 7s. 6d. a week and the highest 893 individual increase reduced from 22s. 6d. to 10s. I think that is well worth while. The estimated loss of revenue to the G.L.C. is equivalent to about 1½d. general purposes rate.
§ Mr. WellbelovedWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that a lot of nonsense is being put around about rent increases in the G.L.C? Is he aware that the unfair policy being operated by the present masters across the river is involving the placing upon tenants of charges which ought to be borne by the system at large, for example the Thames-mead scheme in my constituency?
§ Mr. GreenwoodI do not want to comment on individual schemes, but I am entitled to point out that the G.L.C. basic subsidy per dwelling went up from £24 under the previous Administration to £173 for the cost of a £6,400 house.
§ Mr. RipponWill the Minister agree that the G.L.C. policy is entirely in accordance with the Ministry's circular and advice on rent rebate schemes?
§ Mr. GreenwoodI am grateful to the authority for saying that there was a great deal of wisdom in the circular that I issued.
§ Mr. MolloyIs my right hon. Friend aware that the phrase in the original Question, "fair rents" scheme, has been hotly disputed by tens of thousands of Londoners?
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe proposal for a "fair rents" scheme was turned down by the Prices and Incomes Board, so it does not arise here.