HC Deb 19 April 1973 vol 855 c173W
Mr. Joel Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses in the United Kingdom qualified for central Government housing subsidies; and what is the latest annual total paid in such subsidies.

Mr. Eyre

Of the 5.6 million council dwellings in Great Britain the proportion which have qualified for housing subsidies in the past is not readily ascertainable. The estimated total of subsidies paid to the credit of the housing revenue accounts of local authorities in Great Britain for 1972–73 is £300 million. This excludes an estimated £150 million in respect of supplementary benefit towards rent.

Mr. Joel Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, from information at his disposal, how many local authorities subsidise council houses from the rates.

Mr. Eyre

Under the Housing Finance Act 1972, any local authority which receives operational deficit, transition, rising