78. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health whether, if the Government are not prepared to authorise local authorities to utilise empty dwelling-houses, he will take the necessary steps to enable local authorities to levy rates on all dwelling-houses which are withheld from occupation?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 19th February to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. George's (Mr. Erskine). I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply.
Mr. THOMSONArising out of the reply to which the hon. Gentleman refers, are the Government going to do anything whatever to enable local authorities to use these empty houses?
§ Sir K. WOODMy hon. Friend knows very well the difficulties, in matters of this sort especially, in regard to the particular question on the Paper, and he knows that it has been considered by successive Ministers of Health.
Mr. THOMSONHas not the Ministry any solution to offer? If they turn down this proposal, have they some proposal of their own which would deal with this scandal?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAre we. not going to get any answer? Is the hon. Gentleman not aware of the fact that in the West Ends of all the big industrial cities hundreds of houses arc lying empty while the working people in the East Ends are overcrowded, and will he use the great power which he has, or thinks he has, to utilise these houses and supply the urgent need of the moment? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is the question which is on the Paper.