§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average annual cost of all subsidies from public funds for each council house tenant.
§ Mr. ChannonThe latest relevant financial information is in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Housing Finance Bill. It is estimated that the total net charges met through Votes in England and Wales in 1971-72, including payments towards rent by the Supplementary Benefit Commission, will be about £350 million. Rate fund contributions to Housing Revenue Accounts in 1970-71 were estimated at £55 million to £65 million. The application of these approximate figures to a public sector housing stock of about 4.6 million produces an average annual subvention of just under £89 per dwelling. In this field, as in many others, averages are, however. misleading.