§ 37. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circularise all local authorities who are housing authorities, with a view to obtaining information as to the number of authorities who have offered their houses for sale; the total number of houses so offered; and the number of applications they have received.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI hardly think it worth while to send a circular to 1,470 local authorities at this stage. Inquiries have been made informally of about 250 housing authorities of all types, and these show that nearly 60 per cent. have decided to offer houses for sale, 20 per cent. are unwilling, and the rest are still undecided. Few houses have been sold yet, but several hundreds of tenants have asked to be allowed to buy, and I understand that many more are considering purchase.
§ Mr. JonesMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman realises that the information which he is likely to get will be of great interest to the people of this country, or whether he is afraid that if he circularises the authorities the answer will not be satisfactory?
§ Mr. MacmillanI am not sure what the hon. Member wants. Does he want more houses sold, or fewer?