§ Dr. Summerskillasked 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 Halifax County Borough Council were abolished, excepting old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970.
§ Mr. FreesonIn the light of information provided by the council, I estimate that the cost to Halifax County Borough Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excluding old410W people's accommodation, would in 1969–70 be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 16s. 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 If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range of 50s. to 65s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range of 4s. to 6s. a week if pooled over the whole housing stock.