HC Deb 03 November 1976 vol 918 c1391
10. Sir George Young

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his Department's housing finance review.

Mr. Shore

I hope that the review will be completed by the end of the year.

Sir G. Young

Pending the much-delayed publication of the review, will the Secretary of State tell the House that the call at the Labour Party Conference for a total freeze on council house rents is totally unrealistic, given the economic crisis and the need to reduce indiscriminate subsidies?

Mr. Shore

No doubt the hon. Gentleman follows my party conference as closely as I do. But I was there, and I do not recall any resolution calling for a total freeze on council house rents in the coming year. If there had been such a call, I would have said that it was not one which this Government could accept.

Mr. Richard Wainwright

Will the Secretary of State undertake to seek comments from local authorities which have had successful experience in building houses for sale to people who might otherwise have sought council tenancies, with considerable financial benefits to capital and revenue accounts resulting from this policy?

Mr. Shore

I have no objection at all to councils building houses for sale, but we have found that there are not very many councils which have so far operated this policy.