HC Deb 24 January 1929 vol 224 cc305-6
49. Mr. KELLY

asked the Minister of Health the number of London County Council houses at Becontree standing empty in January, 1926, July, 1928, and at the present time?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I understand that the numbers of unoccupied houses on the Becontree Estate at the dates in question were 398, 160 and 100 respectively.

Mr. KELLY

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to why these houses should be vacant at this time, when the housing problem is so serious in that part of London?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The answer is fairly obvious. It is also obvious that the number of empty houses has rapidly come down.

Mr. R. MORRISON

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the London County Council that, if they find any difficulty in getting tenants for their houses, they will allow people from Greater London to apply for them?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

They are not finding so much difficulty as they were, as the numbers are coming down so rapidly.