§ Sir B. CHADWICKasked the Minister of Health the aggregate number of cases in which he has sanctioned the charging of reduced rents for houses built by local authorities and with the Government subsidy; what is the principle on which his 430W Department proceeds in giving this sanction; and whether the reduction means any increase in the financial liability of the State?
§ Sir A. MONDUp to the present time, I have agreed to a reduction of rents already fixed in 131 cases. Such reductions receive my sanction only where it is clearly demonstrated that the rents originally charged by the local authority were excessive. There is no doubt that a general reduction in the rents charged by a local authority increases the Exchequer liability, but it is difficult to say precisely what effect on Exchequer subsidy any particular reduction has, as to some extent it depends on the amount of rent actually collected.