HC Deb 01 February 1945 vol 407 c1624
66. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Health whether all the local authorities requiring emergency prefabricated bungalows have yet lodged their requirements with his Department; the total number so far requested; and the total number allocated.

Mr. Willink

In England and Wales, 102,304 temporary houses have so far been allocated to 471 local authorities, who applied for 156,120. Further requests for allocations are expected as the smaller local authorities have only recently been invited to apply.

Mr. Bossom

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say if all these local authorities have the land ready for these houses, or are they likely to be without sites when the houses are ready?

Mr. Willink

Of course all the sites are not ready for all the temporary houses, but I am glad to say that progress is good.

Sir I. Albery

Can the Minister say what proportions of the allocations have been made to rural district councils?

Mr. Willink

These allocations are mostly to the urban authorities. The rural authorities, except for very few, fall within the more recent invitation.

Mr. McNeil

Have these local authority programmes been placed on the basis of a £600 bungalow, and what will the Minister do about the programme where the price exceeds that figure?

Mr. Summers

What proportion did the allocation bear to the numbers for which application was made?

Mr. Willink

I gave the total figures, which were about 102,000 allocated as against about 156,000 applied for, but the allocations are not in that proportion everywhere. I had to decide in each case whether the application was excessive. In some cases they had to be cut down; in others the allocations were exactly the numbers asked for.