HC Deb 09 December 1976 vol 922 c358W
Mr. Stanley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the details on which the Chief Secretary bases his calculation that council rents are subsidised to the extent of 57 per cent. of costs.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Estimates of the aggregate of local authority housing revenue accounts for 1976–77 have been prepared in connection with the recent RSG settlement for 1977–78. In 1976–77 English and Welsh local authorities are expected to receive rent income, net of rebates, totalling some £1,050 million, in comparison with expenditure on housing revenue accounts totalling £2,450 million. The percentage of costs borne by rents, after rebates, will thus be about 43 per cent., of which 2 per cent. is in respect of rents other than for dwellings.