§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 967, what is the total additional assistance that has been given to the London borough of Ealing towards its housing revenue account; which Ministers took part in the negotiations; and under what authority and for what specific purposes the assistance was given.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department has agreed to advance the London borough of Ealing £5 million of housing revenue account subsidy from 1992–93 to 1991–92 to give the council more time to overcome the problems created by the previous Labour administration's setting of a totally unrealistic budget. The advance of subsidy is being provided under sections 80 to 87 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) considered and approved the London borough of Ealing's request.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage level of rent increase has been applied in Ealing since May 1990 for council house tenants.
§ Mr. YeoI understand that since May 1990 the London borough of Ealing has increased council rents once, in January 1991 by 38.6 per cent., eqivalent to £10.77 per week.