§ 28. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to announce a decision about proposed housing sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanNot yet. I have written to the hon. Member explaining how matters now stand.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile thanking the Minister for his letter and for the action taken in calling another conference, may I ask whether he is aware that several conferences about this question have now been held and the officers of his Department and of the Ministry of Agriculture must know the views of the local authorities by heart? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking, hi view of the protracted negotiations about this matter, to make a decision by the end of this month?
§ Mr. MacmillanOh, no. I will do my best to expedite it, but, as I have said before, while nobody is more anxious than I am to see that sufficient sites are available for the increased housing, I am also only too much aware of the needs of agriculture and of other claims; and I try in each case to get a settlement which is regarded as reasonable by all concerned.