§ 24. Mr. Richard Adamsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to improve the rate of local authority building in the borough of Wandsworth.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe borough council's programme for 1952 and 1953 shows that they are alive to the needs of 2474 the borough. I shall do all I can to encourage and help the council to achieve this programme.
§ Mr. AdamsDoes the Minister think that these vague efforts of encouragement will do anything to bring about the 50 per cent. increase of building which was promised in the General Election last October?
§ Mr. MacmillanIf the hon. Member would like me to be more precise, whereas they had an instalment of 300, it has now been increased to 565.
§ Mr. A. Fenner BrockwayOn a point of order. May we have some light in the House?
§ 25. Mr. Adamsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what increase in housing accommodation he expects to be made in the borough of Wandsworth in the current year; and how this compares with the rest of the country.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe number of dwellings under construction in the borough at the beginning of the year by the London County Council and the borough council was 4,004. I am not prepared to prophesy how many will be completed during the year. Information as to the number of houses under construction in the whole country is contained in the published housing returns.
§ Mr. AdamsCould the Minister explain, since he is not prepared to say how many will be completed during the current year, why he was so enthusiastic in his answer to Question 24?
§ Mr. MacmillanI think it would be very foolish of me to tie myself to a number that will be completed.