HC Deb 06 March 1970 vol 797 cc202-3W
Mr. Marks

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 Manchester City Council were 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

I estimate that the cost to Manchester 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 14s. a week in a 52-week rent year.

If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction at 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 58s. to 120s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range 1s. to 2s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.