§ 25. Mr. F. Beswickasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government an estimate of the number of caravans sited within the county of Middlesex and used as permanent accommodation.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe county council inform me that there were 857 caravans in the county in March of this year.
§ 31. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, after consultation with the local authorities concerned, he will make Regulations to grant more effective powers to local authorities in Middlesex to deal with undesirable and unlicensed caravan sites, and at the same time to ensure the provision by local authorities of an adequate number of licensed and properly supervised sites.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe caravan problem in Middlesex is not so much a question of getting more powers as of considering how far it is possible, in existing conditions, to use the present powers against people for whom it is difficult to provide properly supervised sites. Local authorities may provide such sites, but Middlesex is already an over-crowded county.
§ Mr. J. A. SparksIs the Minister aware of the outrageous rents paid for these caravans by homeless families, to the extent of nearly £12 a month in some cases? Can he take any action in regard to that matter?
§ Mr. MacmillanI was asked a question about their siting, but I will certainly, in view of what the hon. Gentleman says, inform myself about their rentals.