§ 69. Sir R. Robinsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities are making advances for house purchase under the terms of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, and how many are failing to do so; and what steps he has taken to persuade more authorities to grant loans for house purchase under the terms of these Acts.
§ Mr. H. BrookeDuring the last quarter of 1957, 290 authorities made advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts only, 549 made advances under the Housing Act, 1949, only, and a further 125 made advances under both provisions. Others would no doubt have made advances if they had received suitable applications.
I lose no opportunity to encourage authorities to make advances under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1949, which are more flexible than those of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts. Two examples are Circulars Nos. 32/57 and 54/57, in the latter, of which I said I was prepared to consider schemes for variable interest rates.