HC Deb 08 March 1972 vol 832 cc339-41W
Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of local authorities who have intimated that they will increase council house rents in April.

Mr. Channon

Local authorities do not notify the Department of the proposed date of their rent increases. But the Department has so far noted in the Press reports of 132 rent increases for April, 1972.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state the number of housing authorities in England and Wales from which information has been obtained by his Department in regard to the likely effect of the Housing Finance Bill upon council house rents;

(2) if he will list those housing authorities in England and Wales which have already carried out assessments of the likely effect of the Housing Finance Bill upon the rents of council houses.

Mr. Channon

The Department has so far received from the following four county borough councils their broad estimate of the likely level of fair rents of their dwellings:

  • Bristol.
  • Newcastle upon Tyne.
  • Portsmouth.
  • Rochdale.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for the rate of rent increases, especially in London council rents.

Mr. Channon

The latest figures are contained in the "Housing Statistics" of the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants for April, 1971, copies of which are available in the Library.