§ 38 and 39. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many local authorities have notified him of a shortage of housing sites; in how many cases this is caused, wholly or partly, by mining subsidence; and what steps he is taking to assist in the provision of sites for the future in these areas;
(2) how many local authorities have applied for permission to acquire agricultural land for housing purposes since 1st January, 1953; what has been the decision in each case; and what is the average duration of inquiries before a decision is taken.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe normal arrangement is that the selection of housing sites is carried out by the local authorities concerned, who undertake any necessary consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture and consider the risk of subsidence where this arises. It is usually unnecessary for me to intervene unless some special difficulty arises. The hon. Member will appreciate, therefore, that the information for which he asks is not available in my Department.
§ Mr. SwinglerDoes that mean that only one local authority has notified the Minister of a shortage of housing sites —I know there is one—on account of the land being sterilised owing to mining subsidence? If that is so, would the right hon. Gentleman give very special attention to the needs of that local authority, because of the danger of its housebuilding programme breaking down?
§ Mr. MacmillanI do not think there is any risk of the programme breaking down. If there were I should, of course, give special attention to it.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that I am referring to the Newcastle-under-Lyme authority, who have notified him that there is danger of the housebuilding programme breaking down in 1954, because there are no housing sites left in the borough owing to the sterilisation of land by mining subsidence? Does the answer of the right hon. Gentleman mean that this is the only local authority which has notified him of a shortage of housing sites for this reason?
§ Mr. MacmillanNo. The answer states that I would have given the hon. 1050 Member the information if I had the precise information for which he asks. He will remember he has asked one or two Questions on the special position of New-castle-under-Lyme. That matter is receiving our attention and I hope to reach some settlement of it. But both the House and the hon. Member will recognise that this balance between the claims of housing sites and agricultural land is one of the main problems which we have been trying to overcome, either by new towns or town development or all kinds of things. It is not an easy problem to solve, and I try to keep the balance as fairly as I can, having regard to the general national interest.