HC Deb 17 May 1972 vol 837 cc502-3
7. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Child Poverty Action Group concerning the Housing Finance Bill: and what reply he has sent.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Reginald Eyre)

No representations have been received but copies of the group's pamphlet and discussion papers on the Bill were sent to my right hon. Friend for information. The rent rebates and allowances introduced by the Bill will do much to help children in poorer families, including single-parent families.

Mr. Davis

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the Child Poverty Action Group, Shelter and many other organisations have castigated these proposals, quite justifiably? Is he not aware that these organisations have unitedly condemned the Bill as a calculated attempt by the Government to force up the price of housing and that notwithstanding rebates this will cause extreme difficulty for very many poor people?

Mr. Eyre

I cannot accept much of the reasoning advanced in support of those arguments, because of the way the new scheme will give special help to the very poor.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Instead of causing several million families to undergo a means test to apply for a rent rebate, would it not be preferable to withdraw this new compulsion on local authorities to make a profit out of their rents and instead to allow them merely to cover the cost of their housing?

Mr. Eyre

Of the tenants not receiving supplementary benefit, we estimate that 600,000 to 800,000 might be entitled to a rebate in the first four years. This compares with about 350,000 recipients under existing discretionary schemes.