Building Standards

HC Deb 13 March 1951 vol 485 cc1284-6

35. Mr. Lionel Heald

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he and his officers have studied the exhibition of designs for houses to cost £1,000 or less, recently organised at the County Hall with the approval and assistance of the London County Council; and whether his Department is now prepared to accept the principle that building standards should be made sufficiently flexible to allow local authorities to provide good houses in larger numbers and at rents that council tenants can afford.

36. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will instruct his expert advisers to examine the designs of the £1,000 houses, now on exhibition in the Conference Hall of the London County Council; and, if possible, get suggestions from these designs, or other sources, for modifications in present Government housing regulations, compliance with which is making houses cost more than many can afford to pay.

44. Mr. Harmar Nicholls

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will recommend to all local authorities the successful design submitted to the Housing Exhibition staged at County Hall, with a view to obtaining more houses from the same outlay of materials and lowering council house rents by reducing the cost of the average three bedroomed house from the present £1,400 to £950 each.

Mr. Dalton

I have inspected these plans, and so have my advisers. Subject to local bylaws, it is open to private builders to adopt any of these plans for houses built under licence. I intend shortly to issue a circular to local authorities on the design of council houses.

Mr. Heald

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the former Minister of Health was far too inflexible in these matters?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir, I should not think so.

Mr. Bossom

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the regulations and the conditions which are insisted upon cause houses to be far too expensive? They do not have to be so expensive. If he will look into the matter thoroughly with an expert who knows the game he will find that the matter can be put right very easily.

Mr. Nicholls

Is the Minister aware of the grave urgency of this problem owing to the fact that many people now on the housing lists are refusing their turn because of the high rents? If this scheme is accepted, we can get more houses from a given amount of material and, very likely, at lower rents.

Mr. Dalton

I am taking all these matters into account.

Mr. Gibson

In considering the issue of the circular to which he has referred, will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that there will be no attempt to reduce housing standards?

Mr. Dalton

I am bearing that in mind. My hon. Friend and I have had a number of talks about the matter, as I have had with other hon. Members. He is well aware that I do not want to see any lowering of essential standards.