HC Deb 11 April 1946 vol 421 cc2083-4
65. Mr. Haydn Davies

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that local authorities with long waiting lists of housing applications have no means of ascertaining whether housing properties are available for letting, and since self-contained lettings do not interfere with the privacy of either owner or other tenants in a house, he will give local authorities power to register and control all lettings of self-contained housing units within their areas.

Mr. Bevan

Registration and control by local authorities of all lettings would entail a great deal of additional work which I do not think would be justified.

Mr. Davies

Would the Minister agree that if local authorities could make registers of these lettings, it would enable them to give accommodation to people most needing it?

Mr. Bevan

They would not always have control over the lettings, but certainly it would be desirable, if the local authorities could undertake the additional work, to have a register of that sort.