HC Deb 22 January 1957 vol 563 cc1-2
1. Mr. Marquand

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to which local authorities he has given consent under the provisions of Section 136 of the Local Government Act, 1948, to the making of contributions to bodies established to improve safety or prevent accidents in the home.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Mr. Henry Brooke)

Since the first application made in 1950, consents have been given to forty-five local authorities, whose names I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Marquand

While congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his promotion and expressing the hope that he will seek an early opportunity to reverse the decisions made by his predecessor, may I ask him whether he does not think the number which he has given this afternoon is still rather disappointing, in view of the fact that more children are killed and injured in home accidents than are killed and injured in road accidents, and that the Government grants for the purpose of publicising methods of preserving safety in the home are woefully inadequate compared with those for publicising safety on the roads?

Mr. Brooke

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his congratulations, though I shall not fulfil his hopes. With regard to the number, I think that the right hon. Gentleman's Question will very likely have the effect of drawing the attention of local authorities to this possibility, and I have no intention of refusing any application of this character if it is reasonably based.

Following are the local authorities: The County Council of Worcester. The County Borough Councils of Birming ham, Halifax, Hastings, Preston and Worcester. The Non-county Borough Councils of Barnes, Beckenham, Bexley, Bilston, Brighouse, Erith, Evesham, Hertford Ilford, Luton, Malden and Coombe, Ripon, Sutton and Cheam, Swindon Uxbridge and Whitley Bay. The Urban District Councils of Ashford, Beeston and Stapleford, Biggleswade, Billingham, Braintree and Bocking, Coulsdon and Purley, Crayford, East Barnet, Harpenden, Hornchurch, Huyton-with-Roby, Letchworth, Market Harborough, Merton and Morden, Seaton Valley, Shepshed, Street, Waltham Holy Cross and West Bridgford. The Rural District Councils of Barrow upon Soar, Castle Donington, Evesham and Market Harborough.