HC Deb 21 October 1952 vol 505 cc861-2
42. Mr. H. Hynd

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further details have been received from the Hornsey Borough Council about their decision to permit the building of a house with a sale price of £9,850; and whether he is allowing this project to proceed.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The house was required to be set back to facilitate road widening. This, and the nature of the subsoil, made the foundations unusually costly. The foundations are already up to ground level. To avoid interfering with council housing, expensive materials are to be used for the rest of the rebuilding of this damaged house. In the special circumstances, I do not propose to intervene.

Mr. Hynd

Is the Minister aware of the extent of the expensive and luxury items going into the building of this house, that it is a public scandal locally that such a large amount has been authorised for one dwelling, that inaccurate information was given in the first place, and that if this amount of money was spread over several houses it would contribute to reducing Hornsey Council's long waiting list for houses?

Mr. Macmillan

There is one point I want to make clear. The use of expensive, unusual materials—hardwood floors and things of that kind—is beneficial to my housing programme, and that is why I insist upon it. It is not in competition with my programme. But I find—and I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree—that I am continually being pressed by hon. Members, and sometimes by the same hon. Members, in two contradictory directions—first, that I should give more authority and latitude to local authorities, on the one hand, and then that I should continually interfere with their detailed decisions on the other. I try to keep a balance, but I must say I lean towards local authority decisions, which I leave to them.