§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will, as part of the anti-inflation package, lay before the House a statutory order abrogating the power conferred on the local rent office to determine fair rents in excess of existing rents for housing association houses.
§ Mr. FreesonMy right hon. Friend has no power to make an order in the form suggested by the hon. Member,
318Wfor water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal facilities provided by water authorities were as follows:
which would involve intervention in the discharge by rent officers of a statutory function. Steep increases in rents for housing association dwellings are prevented by the phasing provisions of Section 84 of the Housing Finance Act 1972.
§ Mr. Raisonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sum he proposes to make available to limit council rent increases for 1976–77 given the same prices basis as the£50 million he made available in 1975–76.
§ Mr. FreesonThe amount payable for this purpose will depend largely upon increases in housing costs next year, but the Government propose to make up to£80 million at 1975 prices available to local authorities in Great Britain.