HC Deb 06 April 1970 vol 799 cc27-8W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies to the City of Carlisle are abolished, excepting old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970.

Mr. Denis Howell

In the light of information provided by the Council I estimate that the cost to Carlisle City Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 6s. a week in a 52-week rent year. The dwellings under construction on 1st January 1970 were for old people.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies to York Council are abolished, excepting old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction at 1st January 1970.

Mr. Denis Howell

In the light of information provided by the Council I estimate that the cost to York Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 6s. a week in a 52-week rent year.

If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 50s. to 70s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range 2s. to 3s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.