§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to assist local authorities whose housing accounts have been thrown into deficit by the freeze on rents.
§ Mr. FreesonUp to 80 per cent. of the shortfall of expected rent income may be met by housing subsidies. The precise amount for any individual local authority will depend upon its entitlement to housing subsidies and the state of its housing revenue account.
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§ Mr. Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the loss of revenue to the Congleton and Macclesfield District Councils respectively in the financial year 1974–75 caused by the freeze on council house rents; and if he will seek ways to compensate these two councils for this loss in revenue.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe information asked for in the first part of the Question should be sought from the local authorities which alone can make detailed estimates. As to the second part, the amount of Government assistance through housing subsidies will depend upon each authority's entitlement to such subsidies and the state of its housing revenue account; up to 80 per cent. of the shortfall of expected rent income may be met by such assistance.