HC Deb 17 February 1971 vol 811 cc440-1W
53. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate how many elected members of local housing authorities he has consulted on the local authority associations regarding housing subsidies in their proposed new form.

Mr. Amery

In the discussions now in progress the local authorities are represented by both elected members and officers. As the discussions are confidential it would be inappropriate for me to give further details.

62. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much he intends to reduce the total housing subsidies in England and Wales; how soon he intends to complete this policy; and what effect it will have on rent levels in the public housing sector.

Mr. Amery

Under the reform of housing finance the rent of dwellings will be the fair rent and will not depend directly on the subsidy paid to the authority. I am now discussing with the local authorities how much subsidy should be paid to tenants who cannot afford the fair rent and to authorities with special problems. Total subsidies will be less than they would have been under the policies of the previous Government; but they may well be as high in total as at present or even higher. The essential point is that they will go to those tenants and authorities who need them.

97. Mr. Tom Normanton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress to date of his discussions with local authorities on the reform of housing finance.

105. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to report to the House on his discussions with the local authority associations about his proposals to cut housing subsidies.

118. Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects his discussions with the local authority associations regarding his new housing finance structure to be concluded.

Mr. Amery

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 27th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 520–1.]