§ 80. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the incidence of interest charges borne in the rents charged for council houses has risen from 8s. 8d. per week in 1951 to 31s. 4d. per week in 1963, and that even with the operation of a differential rent scheme this is causing hardship to tenants and ratepayers in West Ham; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the 31s. 4d. to the 1951 level of 8s. 8d.
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§ Sir K. JosephThe rate of interest is only one of several factors which determine average interest charges. The current review of housing subsidies will take full account of all the relevant financial considerations. But it is not the object of the review to restore the 1951 position. Many things have changed since then, including personal incomes and the size of the stock of houses held by local authorities.