§ Mr. Hobdenasked 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 183W Brighton Corporation 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 HowellIn the light of information provided by the Council I estimate that the cost to Brightton Corporation 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 9s. a week.
If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 60s. to 80s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range Is. to 2s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.