§ 35. Mr. David Jonesasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish a list of the borough and district councils which have 211 sold houses built by the local authorities during the past six years, showing how many houses each separate authority has sold.
§ 36. Mr. Somerville Hastingsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses built to let by local authorities have later been sold to their occupiers during the last six years.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanConsent, which is required under Section 79 of the Housing Act, 1936, has not been given by my predecessors to the sale of council houses during the past six years. Local authorities have, however, used their powers under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act and the Housing Acts to assist the purchase of houses.
§ Mr. JonesIn view of that reply, will the right hon. Gentleman now ask his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to come to the Box and apologise for misleading the House last week?
§ Mr. MacmillanOh, no. There will be no question of his apologising. If anybody were to apologise it would be myself. In so far as I may have given him some rapid information which was inaccurate, I can only plead, like Dr. Johnson, when he was asked why he had defined "pastern" as "a horse's knee," "Ignorance, Madam; pure ignorance."
§ Mr. JonesIn view of that supplementary answer, had not the right hon. Gentleman better take a little longer time to look around before he replies to questions?
§ Mr. MacmillanI am always being pressed by hon. Members opposite to make decisions without consideration.