HC Deb 08 May 1951 vol 487 cc1731-2
4. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning, in view of the fact that the waiting lists held by local authorities for housing, in over 80 per cent. of the cases, increased during 1950, what steps he is taking to provide accommodation for the additional workers it will be necessary to bring into factory areas under the new re-armament programme.

Mr. Dalton

There is no ground for the statement made in the first part of the Question; as regards the second, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 13th February.

Mr. Bossom

Does the Minister realise that there is a lot of ground for the statement I make in my Question? If he would take the trouble to write to the various local authorities he would find that there are terrific waiting lists, and that in over 80 per cent. of the cases the waiting lists increased in 1950–51. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That certainly is so. If he will inquire he will find that my statement is absolutely correct. He will not be able to get the re-armament programme carried out because he will find he has nowhere to house the people who are supposed to move into the areas where the programme will be undertaken.

Mr. Dalton

As I said in reply to a previous Question, we give particular priority to any cases where it may be necessary for the purpose of re-armament to bring new workers into an area. That has been the policy for dealing with this problem.

Mr. Bossom

If the Minister will take the trouble to write personally to every local authority in the country, as I have done, he will find that the numbers are exactly as I have stated. But he has not taken the trouble to do that, and he knows it.

Mr. Dalton

I am astonished to hear that the hon. Gentleman has written to all local authorities in the country. It is remarkable private enterprise on his part to do so. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] It is part of my policy not to waste the time of the officials of local authorities with too much correspondence and form filling. It is well known that these waiting lists vary very much from one area to another; they are not comparable. Many are based on one principle in one area and on a different principle in another area. There is a great deal of duplication on waiting lists, for many people are on more than one list. I have heard of a case of a man who is on 16 different lists—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] That is so; he is on 16 different lists. All these things create difficulties.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

Is the right hon. Gentleman suggesting that there is no substantial housing problem at all?

Mr. Dalton

Of course not. The hon. Gentleman knows that.