§ 37. Mr. Sumnerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that hardship is caused to people who are obliged to leave accommodation in one district and to take temporary or unsuitable accommodation in another district, and who thereby lose residential qualification for housing by one local authority before acquiring such qualification with another local authority; and whether he will issue a circular to local housing authorities recommending them that no one should be removed from a housing list by reason only of his removal to another district, until he has there acquired residential qualification.
§ Mr. H. BrookeLocal authorities have already been given very full guidance on the question of residential qualifications in two Reports of the Central Housing Advisory Committee. I am sending copies of these to my hon. Friend.
§ Mrs. L. JegerIs the Minister aware that, in spite of his circulars, many local authorities are refusing to accept on their waiting lists applications from people without long residential qualifications? Does he realise that this is part of the widespread problem with which local authorities are faced? Until he allows local authorities to build more houses, they will be forced to adopt this attitude to new arrivals.
§ Mr. BrookeThis is not a matter of building houses, but of the management of the waiting lists. It does not depend simply on the circulars that I have sent. The Reports of that admirable body, the Central Housing Advisory Committee, give effective advice for any situation that might arise.