§ 10. Mr. Fortescueasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rent schemes proposed by local authorities were rejected by him between July 1968 and December 1969; and how many of these schemes that were rejected contained proposals involving an average rent increase of less than 7s. 6d. per week.
§ Mr. Denis HowellMy right hon. Friend rejected 229 proposals for rent increases, 205 of which involved average increases of less than 7s. 6d. a week.
§ Mr. FortescueWill the Minister tell us, first, whether any of these applications came from the City of Liverpool and, secondly, why he considers it necessary to interfere in the attempts of democratically-elected local authorities to balance their housing accounts?
§ Mr. HowellNone of the rejected applications involved the City of Liverpool. It is quite clear from the debate on the Rent (Control of Increases) Bill that it is still necessary to stop some local authorities which do not need to make rent increases from doing so.
§ Mr. James JohnsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that in Hull the Tory council is putting up the rents of old-age pensioners from 25s. to nearly £4 for a single. bedroomed house? Is he able to do anything about that?
§ Mr. HowellIf the circumstances are as my hon. Friend suggests, an application would certainly have to come before my right hon. Friend, and it would be unlikely to be acceptable.