§ Mr. McGuireasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that the cost of repairing the houses built for the 459W Skelmersdale Development Corporation which have been found to have structural faults will not be passed on, by way of rent increases, to tenants of the corporation's houses; and if he will hold an investigation into the building of these houses and publish the findings.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe level of rents charged by development corporations for their houses is in the first place a matter for their determination. The rent increase coming into force on 26th January, 1970 in Skelmersdale is not attributable to the cost of remedial works.
The corporation is providing my right hon. Friend with a report on certain defects which have developed in some of the houses it has built, and he will consider what further action is necessary when he has received and considered that report.