§ 3. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce a special housing subsidy Bill to cover the cost of rebuilding bombed towns and cities, and to make good the losses sustained by these areas due to the last war.
§ Mr. SandysI am obliged to the hon. Member for his suggestion. However, I am inclined to think that one Housing Subsidies Bill is enough for me at present.
§ Mr. LewisWhile I appreciate the tone and the promptness of the Minister's reply, may I ask him whether he does not really think that the bombed towns and cities should be assisted in some way? If he cannot carry out the suggestion in my Question, can he not incorporate it in the Bill which is before the Committee? That would be helpful to the various bombed towns and cities represented by hon. Members on both sides of the House?
§ Mr. SandysI have no doubt that the hon. Member will have an opportunity of raising this point on further stages of the Bill.
§ 19. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will extend to bomb-damaged towns the concessions on housing subsidies which lie proposes to make to new towns.
§ Mr. SandysThis matter could more appropriately be raised during the proceedings on the Housing Subsidies Bill which is now before the House.
§ Dr. KingWhen this matter is raised, will the Minister bear in mind that the number of houses built in the first five or six years after the war by blitzed towns like Southampton merely filled the gap created by the destruction of houses? They have that burden, and they have the prefabricated houses to replace at some time, and they are therefore worthy of special and sympathetic consideration.
§ Mr. SandysI am aware of the problem of blitzed cities, but of course special action has already been taken to help them as far as possible. Any further action which the hon. Member may suggest will naturally receive sympathetic consideration.