HC Deb 19 June 1956 vol 554 cc1225-6
40. Mrs. L. Jeger

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has for the rehousing of workers who, owing to unemployment, have to leave their homes to seek jobs elsewhere.

Mr. Sandys

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. A. Evans) on 12th June, 1956.

Mrs. Jeger

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Labour is busy encouraging unemployed workers to move elsewhere in their search for jobs, but that the most immobilising factor in the situation is the difficulty of finding housing accommodation in the new area? How can the Government expect workers who have waited for years and years and have at last got a council house under one local authority to give it up to go to another district and search for work?

Mr. Sandys

The best method is to build a lot of houses.

Mrs. Jeger

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Government's present policy of reducing the amount of house building for general needs is acting to the disadvantage of workers who have to move?

Mr. Sandys

I expect that this year we shall build more local authority houses than were built in almost any year under the Labour Government.