§ Mr. Woodallasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to whether, pending his intended legislation, district auditors will be proceeding with their investigations of delay in raising rents under the Housing Finance Act 1972.
§ Mr. CroslandAs I said in my statement of 6th November, there are perhaps a score or more of authorities where, in the process of audit, the district auditors might well conclude that there were grounds for surcharge. District auditors are independent statutory officers and it is for them to decide what further action they should now take in these cases. I have no doubt, however, that where necessary they will continue with their examination of the facts as to the amount of the lost rent income whilst bearing in mind that early legislation will be introduced to provide for an alternative method of recovering it.
ACQUISITION OF DWELLINGS UNDER GENERAL AUTHORITY FOR CONTINUED HOUSING OCCUPATION: GREATER LONDON NUMBERS, COSTS OF ACQUISITION AND OF WORKS* (a) By compulsory purchase order or to meet a statutory obligation Number Acquisition £ Works £ (i) Reported for 6 months ended 30th September 1974— Barking … … … … — — — Barnet … … … … — — — Brent … … … … 2 25,534 — Camden … … … … 33 375,000 — Croydon … … … … — — — Ealing … … … … 23 104,111 — Hammersmith … … … … — — — Kensington and Chelsea† … … … … 11 115,133 500 Kingston upon Thames … … … … — — — Merton … … … … 12 126,015 3,465 Redbridge … … … … — — — Richmond upon Thames … … … … — — — Southwark … … … … — — — Sutton … … … … — — — Waltham Forest … … … … 1 11,250 — Wandsworth … … … … — — — GLC … … … … — — — City of London … … … … — — — (ii) Reported for 3 months ended 30th June 1974— Bromley … … … … 5 49,500 — Enfield … … … … 1 3,746 — Hackney … … … … — — — Harrow … … … … — — — Havering … … … … — — — Hillingdon … … … … — — — Islington … … … … — — — Lambeth‡ … … … … 380 2,514,150 — City of Westminster … … … … — — —