§ Sir John Edenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what encouragement he is giving to the development in the private sector of purpose-built flatlet houses for the elderly; and what assessment he has made of the effect on the development which could be caused by comparing them for rating purposes with local authority homes.
§ Mr. StanleyI have been asked to reply.
Local authorities already have particular regard to the housing needs of the elderly, and I hope that they will take full account of the contribution that can be made by the private sector. On the question of rating the rate able value of any property is based on an assessment of the rent which the property could command in the open market. Local authority and private sector homes are assessed by the same criterion.