§ 30. Captain John Crowderasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how soon he estimates that some 6,000 applicants for houses in the Finchley area, for whom the borough council will not be able to find accommodation, can be rehoused in one of the new or expanded towns.
§ The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Silkin)The rehousing of the excess population of the inner London authorities depends upon the building of the new and expanded towns, and the rate at which this can take place depends on general housing policy and on the overall investment programme. Detailed arrangements for associating particular new towns with particular congested areas are under consideration, and the claims of Finchley will be taken into account; but I am unable to say when their total needs will be met.
§ Captain CrowderIs the Minister aware that an important officer in his Department wrote to the town clerk last October saying that he would give a detailed reply as to how these people could be re-housed very early this year? Can the right hon. Gentleman say when some answer, or further letter, will be sent by his Department to the borough council?
§ Mr. SilkinThis is under active consideration and I hope it will not be long before a reply can be given.
§ Sir Hugh Lucas-ToothCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether particular 1044 new towns, or parts of new towns, are being allocated to particular boroughs or areas in central London?
§ Mr. SilkinThat is the point of the examination. I think it will be done in part, but it might be a mistake to allocate the whole of a new town to a number of particular authorities.