HC Deb 24 April 1970 vol 800 cc176-7W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in council rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings on the basis that housing subsidies to the Swinton and Pendlebury Borough Council are abolished, except old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970.

Mr. Denis Howell:

In the light of information provided by the council I estimate that the cost to Swinton and Pendlebury Borough Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 8s. a week in a 52 week rent year.

If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 45s. to 60s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range 2s. to 3s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies to the Eccles Borough Council are abolished, except old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970.

Mr. Denis Howell:

In the light of information provided by the council I estimate that the cost to Eccles Borough Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 13s. a week in a 52 week rent year.

If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 55s. to 75s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range 1s. to 2s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.

Mr. Newens

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in the rents of existing council dwellings on the basis that the housing subsidies paid to the Waltham Holy Cross, Epping and Harlow Urban District Councils and the Epping and Ongar Rural District Council, excepting those paid on old people's accommodation, were abolished.

Mr. Denis Howell:

In the light of information provided by the councils I estimate that the cost of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to average increases in council house rents in a 52 week rent year as follows:

Waltham Holy Cross U.D.—about 14s. a week.

Epping U.D.—about 9s. a week.

Harlow U.D.—about 10s. a week.

Epping and Ongar RD.—about 11s. a week.