§ 20. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses representing the total, to the most recent convenient date, of the applications received by him from local authorities for approval in respect of their housing schemes for the year 1952; how many applications have been approved; and how many houses these approved applications involve.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe published housing returns give full information of the progress of housing which is a continuous operation.
§ Mr. HaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very grave disquiet about the amount of progress, and will he tell the House quite frankly whether there is any truth in the suggestion now being widely made that plans are being evolved for a new form of building which is about half-way between 921 a moderate-size house and a commodious dog kennel, which is called a cottagette, and will that form the basis of his future housing programme?
§ Mr. MacmillanThe hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is not relevant to the Question asked, and if it were relevant, it is completely untrue.
§ 37 and 38. Mr. J. A. Sparksasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if the number of dwellings in local authority housing schemes approved since October, 1951, and comparative figure for the same period in 1950–51;
(2) the number of dwellings completed by local authorities since October, 1951, and the comparative figure for the same period in 1950–51.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanIf the hon. Member has housing allocations in mind, I would refer him to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) and others on 7th December last.
§ Mr. SparksI have not housing allocations in mind. What I have in mind is what is stated in the Question. Can I ask the Minister for a reply to my Question, which asks for the number of dwellings in housing schemes approved since October, 1951, and the number of completions which are not up to date?
§ Mr. MacmillanAll these matters are dealt with in detail in the housing returns. I do not propose to abandon the practice of my predecessors in connection with this matter.
§ Mr. SparksIs the Minister aware that that is not correct; that the monthly housing returns do not contain details of approved schemes but only completions; that the last return was issued in January; that the housing appendix, which does contain details of approvals, was issued for 31st December and, therefore, no up to date information is available?
§ Mr. MacmillanI propose to adhere to the practice of my predecessors, and I must ask the hon. Gentleman to have the patience to await the returns when they are published month by month.