§ 39. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to which local authorities he has refused loan sanction for private street works in the last six months.
§ Mr. PowellI am sending this information to the hon. Member in the next few days.
§ Mr. SwinglerDo I understand that there will be the names of fifty local authorities on this list? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is a most retrograde step because these works on private streets should have been done years ago, and the existence of these unmade streets causes great dangers to health and sanitation? Will the hon. Gentleman, therefore, reconsider these decisions, in particular in the case of Newcastle-under-Lyme?
§ Mr. PowellIf that is so, the application for loan sanction should have been made at an earlier date.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is his Department which has prevented local authorities from doing more than a certain amount of work each year and that therefore local authorities have not been able to get on with this work because his Department has laid down allocations?
§ Mr. PowellNo loan sanctions for this purpose were refused until the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th February.