HC Deb 22 January 1957 vol 563 cc14-5
14. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new dwellings will be provided by local authorities in the London County Council area in 1957, compared with 1956; and at what cost by way of Government subsidies.

Mr. H. Brooke

The number of new dwellings completed in 1956 by local authorities will be published in the quarterly Housing Return on 1st February next. The amounts of the Exchequer subsidy payable on them have yet to be settled with the local authorities concerned. It is impossible to say how many dwellings will be completed during the present year.

Mr. Lipton

As that is likely to show a disturbing decline in the accommodation provided, will the right hon. Gentleman now abandon the cruelly misleading pretence that the housing problem in London and elsewhere is going to be solved within the next twelve months?

Mr. Brooke

I certainly am not one of those who maintain that all housing problems are now non-existent.

Mr. Mitchison

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the London County Council has a housing list of over 160,000 cases, about 60,000 of which are really urgent, and that 2,000 cases in three years are all that the Council hopes to deal with?

Mr. Brooke

Yes, I was until very recently a member of the London County Council, which is suffering severely from lack of sites.