§ 34. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will announce his proposals regarding the assistance to be given to local authorities in the purchase of requisitioned houses.
§ Mr. PowellI have nothing to add to what I said to the House on 7th November.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the Minister aware that on that occasion he said—at least, by implication—that the Minister's proposals had been delayed pending the announcement of the Government's proposals with regard to the Rent Bill? Since that obstacle is out of the way, will he not now see that general instructions are issued to local authorities, because they badly need them, to carry out the Government's instructions with regard to requisitioned houses?
§ Mr. PowellCertainly, but I also made it clear that no local authority is at present held up in its operations by not knowing the final basis on which subsidy will be based.