§ Mr. Peter Archerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the average weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies to West Bromwich County Borough Council 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 HowellIn the light of information provided by the council I estimate that the cost to West Bromwich County Borough 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 10s. 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If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 55s. to 75s. 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.
§ Mr. Hobdenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the amount of subsidy given each year for housing subsidy to Brighton Corporation for the years 1959 to 1969.
§ Mr. FreesonThe housing subsidy payments made to the council in respect of the provision of new housing have been as follows:
£ 1959–60 159,593 1960–61 161,806 1961–62 175,228 1962–63 173,416 1963–64 177,211 1964–65 177,072 1965–66 187,801 1966–67 222,274 1967–68 255,483 1968–69 252,365 1969–70 266,992