asked the Minister for the Environment the average amount paid by way of rent and maintenance subsidy in respect of each local authority house in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980; the number of houses involved in each case; and the total cost to the Exchequer in each of those years.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Rent and Maintenance Subsidies.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the average rent and maintenance subsidy in respect of each local authority house is not readily available in my Department. The cost of maintaining and managing their rented estates is met by housing authorities by way of rental income, a proportion of the proceeds of sales of houses to tenants and the balance from the authorities' own resources.
The direct Exchequer subsidy for local authority housing meets in full the loan charges incurred by authorities in the provision of houses for letting irrespective of whether or not these houses are subsequently sold to the tenants. The following table gives details for the years in question of the number of rented dwellings and the cost to the Exchequer of subsidising local authority housing which, as indicated above, relates to the loan charges on all houses provided for 'etting:—
Year |
Total number of rented houses |
Direct Exchequer subsidy |
1977 |
98,960 |
30.65 |
1978 |
101,196 |
44.85 |
1979 |
102,922 |
52.12 |
1980 |
105,000* |
61.8 |
*Estimated.