asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now able to make any statement with regard to the review of housing subsidy.
Yes. I have re-reviewed the position and consulted the associations of local authorities and the London County Council. I hope to introduce the necessary legislation at an early date but the House will wish to be aware without delay of the rates of subsidy proposed.These are as follows:
Special subsidy for flats on expensive sites in blocks of 4 storeys or more with lifts (S. 4 and Part III of the First Schedule to the Act of 1946 as amended by S. 37 of the Act of 1949). An escalator provision as follows:—
| Cost per acre of site as developed | Exchequer subsidy | Rate subsidy | |||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | ||
| More than £1,500 but not more than £4,000 | … | 63 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 17 | 0 |
| More than £4,000 but not more than £5,000 | … | 64 | 19 | 0 | 23 | 8 | 0 |
| More than £5,000 but not more than £6,000 | … | 66 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 15 | 0 |
| More than £6,000 but not more than £8,000 | … | 67 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| More than £8,000 but not more than £10,000 | … | 69 | 9 | 0 | 24 | 18 | 0 |
| More than £10,000 but not more than £12,000 | 71 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 11 | 0 | |
| More than £12,000 | … | £71 8s. 0d. increased by £1 19s. 0d. for each additional £2,000, or part of £2,000 in the site as developed. | £25 11s. 0d. increased by 13s. 0d. for each additional £2,000, or part of £2,000, in the cost per acre of the site as developed. | ||||
NOTE.—The following housing subsidies continue unchanged in amount:—
| — | Exchequer subsidy | Rate subsidy | ||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s | d. | |
| Extra subsidies in areas subject to mining subsidence (S. 6 of the Act of 1946) not exceeding | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Extra subsidies for preservation of character of surroundings (S. 39 of the Act of 1949) not exceeding | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| Grants to persons other than local authorities for the building of new houses for members of the agricultural population (S. 3 of the Act of 1938 as amended by S. 13 of the Act of 1946) | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | ||
| Grants to local authorities for hostels (S. 40 of the Act of 1949) | £5 per bedroom. | |||||
| Grants to local authorities for reconditioning (Ss. 15 and 25 of the Act of 1949) | Three-quarters of the estimated loss. | One-quarter of the estimated loss. | ||||
| Grants for building experiments | At discretion. | |||||
I propose that the increased rates of subsidy should apply to houses completed after 28th February.