§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what the saving in housing subsidies would be if the average local authority rent were restored to its real level in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973; and what the increase in the average weekly rent would have to be;
(2) what the saving in housing subsidies would be if the average local authority rent were restored to the level it represented as a percentage of the rent needed to balance the housing revenue accounts of local authorities without subsidy from rates or the Exchequer in each of the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973; and also what the increase in the average weekly rent would have to be.
§ Mr. FreesonIf rents in 1976–77 were at the same real level per dwelling as in the years shown in column A in the table below, total subsidy would be less 37W by about the amount shown in column B and average weekly rent would be greater by about the amount shown in column C. If rents in 1976–77 met the same percentage of housing costs as
A B C D E £million £ £million £ 1970–71 … … … 15 0.08 238 1.19 1971–72 … … … 19(greater) 0.10(less) 238 1.19 1972–73 … … … 116 0.62 329 1.65 1973–74 … … … 193 1.03 274 1.39 Notes:
1. Each reference to rents is to rents unreduced by rebates.
2. "Subsidy" is interpreted as including both central Government subsidy and rate fund contribution.