§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking 1951 as being equal to 100, he will give the percentage rise or fall in the proportion of the national product spent on council house building for each calendar year to date since 1951.
§ Mr. GreenThe figures are given in the following table:
Expenditure on local authority houses as a proportion of gross national product at factor cost (1951 = 100) 1952 113 1953 121 1954 104 1955 83 1956 72 1957 66 1958 53 1959 51 1960 49 1961 48 1962 54 1963 (first 9 months) 54
§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since 1951 the cost of council-house building has risen by 72 per cent.; and whether in his forthcoming Budget he will take steps to make further financial grants to local authorities for house-building and to reduce these rising costs.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanI am aware of the information which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government gave to the hon.180W Member in answer to his Question about local authority building costs on 5th February. On the rest of his Question, housing subsidies are not dealt with as part of the Budget. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is reviewing those subsidies in consultation with the Local Authority Associations. This review will take into account the cost of house building and also the rent paying capacity of tenants.