§ Mr. Gwilym JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has completed his consideration of his 1992–93 housing revenue account subsidy proposals; and when he expects to make his subsidy determinations.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe housing revenue account subsidy determinations for 1992–93 have been made today following consideration of the responses to consultation. I am placing copies of the determinations in the Library of the House.
For rent guidelines the proposal for an average increase of £2.14 is confirmed. As usual, guideline increases for individual authorities vary according to the capital value of their stock.
For management and maintenance allowances, the proposed average increase from £712 per dwelling in the current year to £766 per dwelling in 1992–93, an average increase of 7.5 per cent., is similarly confirmed. Under targeting arrangements, increases for individual authorities take account of the condition of their housing stock.
The rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances are the assumptions to be made for subsidy purposes. It is for councils to set their own rents and to decide how much to spend on managing and repairing their housing stock within their legal obligations.