HC Deb 23 November 1954 vol 533 cc1040-1
37 and 38. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether, in view of the housing shortage in the Hebburn Urban District Council area, he will reconsider his decision to limit to 120 the number of houses to be erected in 1955 by the local authority;

(2) if he is aware of the concern of local authorities with direct labour schemes that the reduced housing programmes which he has announced for local authorities for 1955 will lead to reducing and breaking up the labour force which has served them and their respective communities well; and whether he will give such authorities an assurance that their allocation of houses will be at least sufficient to allow full employment to be maintained for the men concerned.

Mr. Sandys

The principal regional officer of my Department discussed this matter with the representatives of the Hebburn Urban Distrct Council last week and I am awaiting his report. Similar difficulties which may arise in other areas will be examined in the same way with the local authorities concerned.

Mr. Fernyhough

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that, provided the local authorities can make out their claims that they need higher allocations than were originally allowed them, they will be able to proceed? Can he give a further assurance that those local authorities which, after much effort, have built up a good direct labour scheme will not have to abandon their scheme because of the cut-down in the programme which the right hon. Gentleman recently announced?

Mr. Sandys

I have not announced any cut-down in any programme, and I can assure the hon. Member that the needs of all localities will be sympathetically considered.

Mr. Fernyhough

The Minister says that there has not been any cut-down, but is he not aware that it was stated that next year houses to rent, built by local authorities, would be limited to 150,000 and that the difference between 150,000 and the normal 200,000—[Interruption.]—200,000 to rent—will result in fewer houses to rent being built? Is he not aware that if it is to be left to private enterprise the housing problem will never be solved because private enterprise has not built 1 per cent. of the houses in that area since the war?

Mr. Sandys

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to send me a copy of any such statement.