§ 22. Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what discussions he has had with local government representatives upon the need to control the tenancies of houses where people are rehoused under overspill arrangements; and if he will now state Government policy upon this matter.
§ Mr. SandysThis was one of the matters raised with me by representatives of the large cities with whom I recently discussed the problem of accommodating overspill population. But I have no statement to make on this subject at present.
§ Mr. HowellCan the Minister tell us when he is likely to be in a position to make a statement, as it makes overspill arrangements impossible if a house is allocated to one family from a city and another family is brought in from outside the city? Local authorities are very much concerned about this principle.
§ Mr. SandysI will make a statement as soon as I can, but discussions and planning are going on between the Government and the cities concerned and also between the big cities and local authorities in the counties around them. I am quite prepared to consider any constructive suggestion for easing the problem of congestion, but I am not convinced that this proposal is necessarily the best way of tackling this problem.
§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeis my right hon. Friend aware that while unlimited private immigration into the big cities is allowed—as it must be allowed in a free society—the whole policy of overspill makes nonsense?