XN000022-1977-10-05 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977

+THIS IS THE ANNUAL FIGURE ON WHICH I HAVE LONG HAD MY EYE. IT IS ONLY AT THIS SORT OF LEVEL THAT WE CAN MAKE THE DECISIVE AND RAPID INROADS INTO THE HOUSING PROBLEM FOR WHICH WE HAVE WORKED AND WAITED SO LONG.

+ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS OF THIS RATE OF COMPLETION SHOULD BREAK THE BACK OF THE PROBLEM AS WE HAVE KNOWN IT, HE SAID.

+SITES HAVE, THEREFORE, BEEN ALLOCATED, AND EVERY STEP FOR EACH ESTATE IN THE LONG PROCESS FROM SITE CLEARANCE TO BUILDING COMPLETION HAS BEEN PLANNED AND TIMED SO THAT THIS LEVEL OF OUTPUT CAN BE MAINTAINED AT LEAST UNTIL 1984/85, AND SO THAT ANY SLIPPAGE IN THE PROGRAMME CAN BE DETECTED EARLY AND RECTIFIED,+ HE ADDED.

SIR MURRAY GAVE AN ASSURANCE TO PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS AND THE PUBLIC THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ACCEPTS ITS OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE DECENT HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME GROUPS AT RENTS THEY CAN AFFORD.

+ IN THE URBAN AREAS THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE AUTHORITY HAS UNDER ITS CONTROL A LARGE STOCK OF FLATS OF VARYING SIZES, QUALITY AND RENTALS,+ HE SAID.

+THROUGH MUTUAL EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER SCHEMES IT IS NOW POSSIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TO MOVE MUCH MORE FREELY THAN BEFORE TO DISTRICTS AND FLATS OF THEIR OWN CHOICE AND FOR THE AUTHORITY TO OFFER A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF FLATS TO NEW TENANTS,

+ IN THE NEW TOWNS, WHERE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES CONSIST ALMOST ENTIRELY OF NEW IMPROVED TYPES, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE AUTHORITY REALISE THERE MUST BE A RANGE OF ACCOMMODATION AND RENTS THAT WILL CATER FOR ALL LC. INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ABOVE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVEL, WITHOUT PLACING EXCESSIVE BURDENS ON TAXPAYERS,+ HE SAID.

UNDER THE RECENTLY APPROVED NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, SIR MURRAY SAID, THE AUTHORITY'S OUTSTANDING DEBTS TO THE GOVERNMENT WERE CONVERTED INTO A STRAIGHT GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION ASSESSED CONSERVATIVELY AT MORE THAN $5,000 VILLION.

+ IN FUTURE, FOR THE RENTED HOUSING PROGRAMME, LAND WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE AUTHORITY FREE OF PREMIUM, AND DRAWINGS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL BE REPAID OVER 40 YEARS INTEREST FREE.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GRANTS PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT TO COVER THE RECURRENT DEFICITS ON GROUP B ESTATES HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN,+ HE SAID.

+ THE MAIN OBJECT OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS IS TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO EXERCISE GREATER FLEXIBILITY OVER RENTS PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW ESTATES.+

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