HC Deb 16 March 1950 vol 472 c1235
34. Miss Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Health in which of the following cases the waiting list for houses at the end of February, 1950, is less than in December, 1945: Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle - upon - Tyne, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Wallsend-on-Tyne, White-haven, Wolverhampton and Tynemouth.

Mr. Bevan

The information is not available.

Miss Ward

Does not the right hon. Gentleman keep in very close touch with all these important authorities to ascertain what are their views on the increasing number of people on their waiting lists?

Mr. Bevan

I have kept in very close touch indeed. A number of these authorities have had more houses allocated to them than they have, in fact, started to build.

Mr. George Thomas

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the city of Cardiff has had a larger allocation than it has fulfilled in building over the past three years? If the hon. Lady will consult me I will tell her the reason why.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Has not the right hon. Gentleman at his disposal the numbers on the waiting lists of the various authorities in the country?

Mr. Bevan

No, these are in the custody of the local authorities themselves and they vary from time to time. We have not this information at the centre.

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