§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make his housing revenue account subsidy determinations for 1994–95.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesI made the determinations on 12 January and have placed copies in the Library of the House.
I have confirmed an average guideline rent increase of 7.5 per cent. (3.5 per cent. in real terms), with a minimum increase of £1.50 and a maximum of £2.90 per week. I estimate that the average guideline rent increase will be £2.19 per week and the resulting average weekly guideline rent £31.30.
For management and maintenance allowances, I have confirmed an average increase of 4 per cent. per dwelling overall, which will continue to be distributed through a system of targets reflecting authorities' relative need to spend. I estimate that this will raise the average allowance to £824 per dwelling, an increase of £31.
The rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances are the assumptions to be made for subsidy purposes. It is for councils themselves to set their rents and decide how much to spend on management and maintenance within their legal obligations.
I have placed in the Library of the House estimates of the rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowance for each authority.