§ 11. Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to provide that all housing authorities should make a minimum percentage rate contribution to their housing revenue account.
§ Mr. MacCollMy present view is that circumstances vary too much between housing authorities for a compulsory minimum contribution to be desirable but housing authorities should give serious consideration to the desirability of a contribution from the rates where this would avoid steep or harsh increases in rents.
§ Mr. HooleyIs my hon. Friend aware that the Prices and Incomes Board found that good new municipal housing was an important amenity value to the community as a whole? This being so, surely it is important that the community as a whole should make some contribution to the recurrent cost of it?
§ Mr. MacCollThe board was not in favour of a general universal contribution, although it did recognise the importance of a community contribution in some cases.