Mr. Wardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how he defines standard council house rent for the purpose of statistics computed by his Department; and if it takes into account rent rebate allowed to many council house tenants.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe standard council house rent used for this purpose is the rent fixed for the dwelling by the local housing authority, and excludes any payment for rates, water rates or70W paid by domestic ratepayers in 1969–70 of Is. 3d. in the £ in respect of dwelling-houses and 7d. in the £ for mixed heredilaments which are predominantly residential. In 1970–71 the reductions will be Is. 8d. and 10d. respectively. The number of hereditaments in Wales w which the reductions apply is approximately 904,000 and a corresponding number of ratepayers directly benefit.