§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ultimate total cost of a typical council house, costing £8,000 to build including land, when interest at the present rate for long-term loans has been paid over the normal borrowing period of 60 years; and what proportion of the ultimate total cost is payable in the interest on the loan.
§ Mr. ChannonAssuming a Consolidated Loans Fund interest rate of 9 per cent., the total payments would come to about £43,500. About 80 per cent. of this sum would represent interest on the loan.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of completions of council houses in the year preceding the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures at the same date in each of the preceding five years.
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§ Mr. ChannonDuring the year ended 30th September 1973, 97,900 dwellings were reported as completed for local authorities and new towns in Great Britain. Corresponding figures for the previous five years may be obtained from Housing Statistics Nos. 8, 12, 16 and 20—in each case page 15—and Housing and Construction Statistics No. 5, page 23; copies are in the Library.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to increase the number of houses for rent built by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 14th November.—[Vol. 864, c.151.]