§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government of the council houses sold in each of the past five years, what was the average price paid by sitting tenants compared with the average cost of replacing these houses with new accommodation, in the categories of housing involved, including flats.
113W
§ Mr. MellishI regret that this information is not available, as local authorities are not required to notify the Ministry of particulars of individual sales.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has made to local housing authorities regarding rent increases in the period of severe restraint; how many authorities have notified him that they have increased council house rents; and what percentage this is of the total number of authorities.
§ Mr. MellishThe White Paper on the Period of Severe Restraint (Cmnd. 3150) stated that the Government looked to local authorities to avoid or limit any increase in rents as far as they could; and that where rent increases proved inevitable the Government expected authorities to protect tenants of modest means by the application of rent rebates. Local authorities were not required to notify the Ministry of rent increases during this period.