HC Deb 14 July 1970 vol 803 cc1346-8
14. Mr. Bob Brown

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much he estimates rents of Newcastle Corporation and Newburn Urban District Council houses will increase on average on the basis that housing subsidies are abolished.

Mr. Channon

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 19.]

Mr. Brown

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that reply. I am sure that my constituents will be grateful to have it straight from the horse's mouth. Can he advise the House when he intends to legislate to abolish housing subsidies, which is so genteelly referred to in the Gracious Speech as "restructuring"?

Mr. Channon

The hon. Gentleman must remember what was said in the Queen's Speech. That remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government, and before any change is made in the system by recasting housing subsidies, there will have to be lengthy consultations with local authorities and others concerned.

20. Mr. Barnes

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on his plans to renegotiate the housing subsidy system.

34. Mr. Raphael Tuck

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has regarding the level of the grant to local authorities for council house building.

Mr. Channon

My right hon. Friend is now considering how the present housing subsidies might be recast so as better to serve the Government's housing objectives of giving greater priority to the homeless and the badly housed.

Mr. Barnes

But could the hon. Gentleman not clarify this business of "recasting" or "refashioning" or "restructuring", or whatever it is, the housing subsidies? Does it not mean that he intends to cut drastically the overall level of housing subsidies, which will mean that the rents of many council tenants will be forced up even faster than they are rising at the moment?

Mr. Channon

I ask the hon. Gentleman to look at the passage in the Gracious Speech, which said that housing subsidies will be refashioned so as to give more help to those in greatest need. I should have thought that that was very acceptable.

Mr. Tuck

Does the hon. Gentleman believe that it will give help to those in the greatest need if he slashes the housing subsidies of £130 million which the Labour Government gave, which will force up council rents and make it much more difficult for local authorities to build houses?

Mr. Channon

As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes), the purpose of recasting or refashioning the housing subsidies is to give more help to those in greatest need.

Mr. Freeson

In pursuit of that objective, which has been mentioned a great deal by hon. Members opposite, will the hon. Gentleman and the Minister con- sider pursuing the consideration which the previous Administration gave, as part of their reconsideration of housing finance, to a national rebate scheme to apply to people in private accommodation as well as public?

Mr. Channon

It is far too early at this stage to reach any conclusions on this matter, but certainly all points of view will be borne in mind.

Mr. Tuck

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment as early as possible.