§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the average council house rent increase of 82p decided upon by Alnwick District Council will affect the national or regional average to such an extent as to jeopardise the achievement of the 60p figure proposed in the White Paper, "The Attack on Inflation"?
§ Mr. FreesonNo. The achievement of any given average implies that increases imposed by some local authorities will be above while others will be below the average.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the special subsidies referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on 7th April have been made available so as to assist the Alnwick District Coun- 104W cil to maintain the 60p guideline for rent increases.
§ Mr. FreesonThe subsidies are those payable under the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975, which include the special and high costs elements of housing subsidy. Payment of the special element, which was orginally confined to 1975–76. was extended to 1976–77 by the Remuneration, Charges and Grants Act 1975. Detailed advice about these subsidies for 1976–77 was given to local authorities in DOE Circular 38/76.
However the entitlement to subsidy of any individual local authority will depend upon their financial circumstances. I cannot say at this stage whether Alnwick District Council will have an entitlement.