HC Deb 11 April 1973 vol 854 cc281-2W
Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the net cost of postponing council rent increases due in April for three months.

Mr. Channon

No additional cost would arise from such a postponement in the case of tenants receiving supplementary benefit. For the fewer than 2 million other tenants of authorities in England and Wales which were due to increase rents this April, the net loss to the housing revenue accounts of those authorities would be £10 million to £12 million. The April rent increase has in effect been postponed by four weeks because tenants will not pay it until after the end of the standstill period.