§ 45. Mr. Longdenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will allow the Greater London Council to raise their rents to an economic level providing that the total increase is spread over a number of years and that the 62W increase in any one year does not exceed 10s. per week.
§ Mr. MacCollThe overriding consideration at present must be the need to restrain increases in prices, including rents. My right hon. Friend is consulting with the local authority associations about proposals made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes concerning the longer term policy for determining local authority rents.
§ 47. Mr. Atkinsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the factors which cause the registered weekly rents of ordinary working-class rented houses in London to be, on average, double the registered rents for equivalent properties in Manchester and Liverpool.
§ Mr. MacCollApart from the effect of scarcity of rented accommodation, which is excluded in determining registered rents, London rents have over many years been substantially higher than elsewhere, reflecting the high costs of property, land and services generated by the pull of London as a capital city.
§ 49. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that his interference with systems of rents operated by the Greater London Council will cost the ratepayers of London £4½ million next year; and whether, in view of the fact that this increased burden will be the direct result of Government action, he will make an interest-free loan of this amount to the Greater London Council.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. Hunt) on 18th June.—[Vol. 766, c. 892–893.]