§ 42. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of local authorities make loans available for house purchase; and what proposals he has regarding those authorities which are refusing to exercise the powers available to them to provide a service to people wishing to buy their own homes.
§ Mr. GreenwoodOver 90 per cent. of housing authorities in England and84W Wales have home loan schemes. The powers are permissive, and the need for local authorities to supplement Building Society and other sources of borrowing varies with local circumstances. The exercise of these powers within the overall limits set by the total sum available nationally, is best left to local decision.
§ 60. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount of money he is allocating to those local authorities who, with his approval, have launched schemes for the first time to provide mortgages for house purchase.
§ Mr. GreenwoodNo specific allocation has been made for this purpose and such cases are dealt with individually.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what is the average amount his Department is allocating to borough councils and urban district councils to provide mortgages for house purchase in 1967–68;
(2) by what criteria his Department decides on the amount of money that shall be allocated to local councils to provide mortgages for house purchase.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe total amounts allocated for this purpose to county boroughs and non-county boroughs in England and Wales is £39.5 million, and to Urban Districts £22.9 million. The amounts allocated to individual authorities are based, as agreed with the local authority associations, on the average amounts lent by the authority in the three years to 31st March, 1965.