§ Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average economic rent of a three-apartment local authority house which qualified for Government subsidy in 1946, 1950, 1951, 1955, and 1960, assuming the loan charges were based on the long-term rates of interest being charged by the Public Works Loan Board as at 31st December in each of those years;
(2) what was the average cost of building a three-apartment local authority house in each of the years 1946, 1950, 1951, 1955, and 1960.
§ Mr. MaclayThe estimated average cost, and average annual outgoings, for three-apartment local authority houses completed in the years mentioned by the hon. Member are as follows:
Year Cost Annual Outgoings £ £ s. d. 1946 … 1,183 44 15 6 1950 … 1,578 63 10 4 1951 … 1,412 65 19 8 1955 … 1,570 93 18 10 1960 … 1,818 125 11 9 These figures have no necessary relation to rents charged by local authorities, who are expected to pool receipts and outgoings over all their houses, including pre-war houses. The effect of pooling is that, after crediting Exchequer 103W subsidies, and assuming a rate contribution equal to one-third the amount of these subsidies, the major Scottish authorities could have balanced their housing revenue accounts in 1959–60 by collecting rents averaging about 15s. a week.