§ 30. Mr. BOSSOMasked the Minister of Health the number of the separate housing authorities; for how many does he approve building regulations or by-laws; and how many have their individual Building Acts?
Sir H. YOUNGThe number of separate housing authorities is 1,554. All those outside London are also local authorities for the purposes of the Public Health Acts and therefore empowered to make by-laws requiring my confirmation. As my hon. Friend is aware, building in the County of London is mainly governed by the London Building Act: out side London there are six local authorities in whose areas building is governed by Building Acts instead of by the normal procedure of by-laws under the Public Health Acts.
§ Mr. THORNEIs there any uniformity in the building regulations and by-laws, and does the Minister not think that it is time to have model building by-laws and to insist upon the local authorities carrying them out?
Sir H. YOUNGThe hon. Member is no doubt acquainted with the model by-laws issued by my Department, but he will also no doubt recognise that local conditions vary.