§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average current weekly subsidy to council tenants and housing association tenants, 180W respectively, per dwelling, both inclusive and exclusive of housing benefit; and how this compares with the average weekly benefit to owner-occupiers in the form of tax relief on mortgage interest.
§ Mr. TraceyFor 1986–87 the amount estimated to be paid as housing subsidy and rate fund contributions to local authority housing revenue accounts in England is equivalent on average to £4.20 per dwelling per week. The amount received by local authority and new town tenants as rent rebates is equivalent on average to £8, per dwelling per week. In total these forms of support are equivalent on average to £12.20 per week for each local authority dwelling.
Comparable information cannot be given for housing associations, because subsidy on their schemes is paid in the form of a capital grant, and because statistics are not available of housing benefit paid to housing association tenants.
The relief given on mortgages in 1986–87, including mortgage interest relief at source, is estimated to be equivalent to £6.20 per week for each owner-occupier.