§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the average benefit to owner-occupiers and council-house tenants, respectively, from the cost to the Exchequer, during the financial year 1968–69 of private home ownership and local authority 248W rented housing; and what are the estimated figures for 1969–70.
§ Mr. FreesonThe information is as follows
Average amount (estimated) 1968–69 1969–70 Great Britain Government subsidies to local authorities* 26 30 United Kingdom Mortgage interest relief to house mortgagors† £43 10s. £47 10s. *These subsidies are payable on the provision of new dwellings under all subsidy legislation, including subsidies payable to the new towns commission and Development corporations. The typical subsidy payment on new dwellings provided under the Housing Subsidies Act 1967 is of the order of £144 a year for 60 years. In practice, the cumulative subsidy payments to local authorities are not evenly spread among all tenants but ate used mainly to reduce the rents of new housing and to meet the cost of rent rebates for tenants with lower incomes. † No separate mortgage interest relief figures for Great Britain are available. The average figures are calculated by reference to all owner occupiers in receipt of tax relief on mortgage interest and include assistance provided under the option mortgage scheme. If the averages were calculated by reference to all owner occupiers, including those not in receipt of tax relief, the figures would be £23 and £25 for 1968–69 and 1969–70 respectively.