§ 15. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the hardships being caused to severely bombed boroughs by the high rates they have to levy; that this will be made worse by the proposals contained in the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Bill and the increased Bank Rate; and what action he proposes to take to assist these financially embarrassed local authorities.
§ Mr. SandysIt is misleading to generalise about the position of severely bombed boroughs. Their rates and other circumstances differ widely. They cannot, therefore, be considered as a group.
§ Mr. LewisI hope that I can thank the Minister for that reply. Do I understand that he will look at the position of individual councils and consider whether or not, on their merits, they can be assisted in the future as they have been in the past—especially the County Borough of West Ham, the position of which he knows?
§ Mr. SandysI have no reason to suppose that the County Borough of West Ham will be less well treated in the future than it has been in the past.
§ Mr. GibsonHas the Minister yet arrived at any conclusion about the formula to be used in the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Bill for dealing with special hardship problems of borough councils?
§ Mr. SandysThe hon. Member is a member of the Standing Committee which is discussing the Bill, and he will have a better opportunity of raising the point there.