§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated cost of a three-bedroomed council house built in October, 1951, and each of the subsequent years to October, 1956; 141W and, on the basis of a council borrowing the whole of these sums for repayment, spread over sixty years at the then current interest rates, what would be the total cost of each of these types of houses on completion of the repayment of capital sum and loan charges.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe information asked for is as follows:
Since 31st December, 1952, local authorities have not, in fact, been required to borrow at the current interest rate for the full period of sixty years.
THREE-BEDROOMED COUNCIL HOUSES Third quarter in each year Average tender price per house Total cost of interest and repayment charges assuming loan raised over 60 years at rate of interest charged by Public Works Loan Board at end of relevant quarter £ £ s. d. 1951 … 1,403 3,033 12 0 1952 … 1,391 3,856 6 4 1953 … 1,382 3,831 7 3 1954 … 1,381 3,481 19 6 1955 … 1,432 4,530 0 2 1956 … 1,487 5,103 18 7
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list containing the average floor space of council houses in 1951 and 1956, the total number of scheduled slum houses, and, on the present rate of clearance, when this total number of houses is expected to be cleared; and what his estimate is of the number of new houses which will be completed in the current year.
§ Mr. H. BrookeDetails of the average size of three-bedroom council houses are given in the Annual Report of my Department, and full information about the number of slum houses was contained in "Slum Clearance" presented to Parliament in November, 1955 (Cmd. 9593). I will make no prophecy; I will stand on the record.