§ 22. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on his discussions with certain local authorities about fair rents, and the ending of the 4 per cent. loans and the present subsidies; and if the subsidy to be paid to some private landlords' tenants when their rents are taken out of their present controls is to be subtracted from the total subsidy available to council tenants.
§ Mr. ChannonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for 385 South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 16th June, 1971.—[Vol. 819, c. 420–1.]
§ Mr. AllaunIf the second part of my Question is soundly based, as I believe it to be, does it not mean that millions of council tenants will suffer a threefold blow: first, by the reduction of £150 million a year in subsidy, compared with what the figure would have been; secondly, by having to subsidise the very poorest council tenants; and, thirdly, by also having to subsidise private landlords' tenants or, as many of us believe, in the outcome, the landlords themselves?
§ Mr. ChannonThe hon. Gentleman must not assume that his Question is accurate. As a supporter of a Government who introduced the fair rents principle, I am sure he will be glad to see an extension of it.