27. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authority housing schemes for the relief of overspill, outside the Town Development Act, have been approved since 28th March, 1956; and how many such schemes have been abandoned or postponed since that date.
§ Mr. BevinsLocal authorities do not need my right hon. Friend's approval to carry out such schemes. I regret that the information asked for is not available.
Mrs. ButlerIs the Minister aware that Wood Green Council has had to abandon a scheme for building a hundred houses at Letchworth because the withdrawal of the subsidy would have made the rents nearly £4 a week? In view of the difficulties of town development and schemes of that kind, and of the fact that the new towns are scarcely taking people from the waiting lists of local authorities, is it not quite wrong for the Minister to say, as he does in his Report, that he is using housing subsidies for the relief of overspill?
§ Mr. BevinsI think that my right hon. Friend has already dealt with the general question of subsidies and interest rates. He is aware, of course, that the Wood Green Council has abandoned the scheme which it had in contemplation at, I think, Letchworth, but I do repeat that this whole matter of overspill is constantly under review.