§ 27. Mr. George Wallaceasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many people in London and Greater London are registered for housing with more than one local authority; and whether he will arrange to co-ordinate local authority housing lists for these areas in order to provide an accurate indication of the situation.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan)I am aware of the overlap, but attempts to eliminate it would involve greater labour than the results would merit. When an applicant is housed, the London County Council inform the Metropolitan Borough Council, or vice versa, and for practical purposes this co-ordination seems adequate.
§ Mr. WallaceI appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's reply, but is he aware that the L.C.C. are also bound up with the development of the rural areas outside the Metropolitan area, and it is in these areas that there is greater need for cooperation? Is he also aware that in some of these outside areas notices are being sent to people saying that there is no chance whatever of their being housed in that particular district, whereas, if there was this co-operation, it might be possible for this to be avoided.
§ Mr. BevanI will make inquiries to find out whether it is possible to extend to the areas outside the Metropolitan boroughs the arrangements made by the Metropolitan boroughs and the L.C.C. inside London.