HC Deb 05 December 1988 vol 143 cc9-10
10. Dr. Marek

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to advise local councils to increase the rents of council tenants in Wales.

Mr. Grist

It is for local authorities to determine actual rent increases according to their own circumstances.

Dr. Marek

Does the Minister recognise that Wrexham Maelor borough council is a good, value-for-money oriented, efficient housing authority, with a good standard of repairs, low rents and a housing revenue account which stands on its own and is not subsidised by the general rates fund? That being so, why is the Minister threatening to make that local authority increase its council rents by, in effect, threatening to withhold housing benefits and thus risking the poor subsidising the poorer?

Mr. Grist

The hon. Gentleman must explain that to me, because, as I said in my answer, it is up to local authorities to set their own rent levels. That is so both under the present regime and under the regime that we propose to introduce.