Birmingham and Tamworth (Hansard, 22 July 1958)

§ 28. Mr. Moss
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his attention has been called to the publication, "The Overspill Problem in the West Midlands," by the Midlands New Towns Society, a copy of which has been sent to him; if he is aware that 80,000 houses will need to be constructed outside the West Midlands conurbation in the next 20 years, requiring the designation and construction of at least two new towns; what steps he will take to facilitate the designation and construction of such new towns; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Mr. Henry Brooke)
I have seen this publication, and I agree that there is a serious problem. The figure of 80,000, which I believe to be on the high side, includes, according to the booklet, many houses for which sites are likely to 209 be found under overspill arrangements already in contemplation. Many more will no doubt be built by private enterprise. I am not convinced that the remainder of the problem cannot be solved within the framework of local government. I have accordingly told the Birmingham City Council that the Government are not prepared to build a new town under the New Towns Act, 1946, and that if the council considers a scheme on the scale of a new town to be necessary it should consider undertaking it itself.

§ Mr. Moss
While appreciating that the figure of 80,000 houses includes houses for which sites may be found in co-operation with other local authorities, is it not the case that there is a residual number of houses for which no such sites can be found and that new towns will be needed if those houses are to be built? Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the enormity of the problem and what a solution to it would mean in terms of human happiness for thousands of people? Is he further aware that the General Purposes Committee of the Birmingham City Council has pronounced in favour of trying to extend the city's boundaries, but that fringe expansion is not accepted by any intelligent opinion today?

§ Mr. Brooke
While always welcoming this sort of study into housing problems, undertaken by people on the spot, I cannot necessarily accept all the figures in the booklet. I have told Birmingham City Council that, in my view, this serious problem is one which can be solved by ordinary local government methods, and I have asked the council to work out a programme and to let me have it. I have just received a further letter from the council on which I prefer not to comment at this stage.

§ Mr. Shurmer
Is the Minister aware—I know that he is—that the application list in Birmingham is now reaching 70,000 and that by his action in not allowing lower interest rates for the Public Works Loan Board—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—if the hon Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) will shut his mouth I will carry on—he is preventing Birmingham from dealing with its housing problem as it should, and that it also means, as my hon. Friend the Member 210 for Meriden (Mr Moss) pointed out, an extension of the boundary of the city, which is already far too large?

§ Mr. Brooke
This is a question of overspill, and I have invited Birmingham Corporation to submit to me its plans for coping with it.

Mr. Dugdale
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a question which concerns not only Birmingham but a large number of other towns outside? Will he look at this matter seriously and not simply say that somebody is sending in something at some time when he will do something about it?

§ Mr. Brooke
I hope it is not a matter of somebody sending me something sometime. I hope that Birmingham Corporation will answer the question I have put to it.

§ 29. Mr. Snow
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a recent decision of the Tamworth Borough Council to postpone the construction of 944 dwellings, and the roads and sewers involved, pending a reduction of the Public Works Loan Board rate to five per cent.; whether he is aware that the overspill agreement of the Borough with Birmingham Corporation is thus jeopardised; and what proposals he has in mind to assist the borough council in this instance.

§ Mr. H. Brooke
I am aware of this decision, but it does not necessarily jeopardise the carrying out of the overspill agreement. At a meeting earlier this year when I met representatives of Staffordshire authorities (including Tamworth Borough Council) and the Birmingham Corporation, I suggested that authorities who felt unable to make an immediate start on their overspill programme should meanwhile press on with preparing their plans.

§ Mr. Snow
In view of the right hon. Gentleman's Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Moss), is he aware that at present there is a stalemate between Birmingham Corporation and, for instance—and I emphasise those words—the Borough of Tamworth? Is he aware that the failure to start this large programme of houses, a very large programme for a relatively small town, is 211 caused by the fear that actuarially speaking there is an accruing indebtedness of the borough which it will not be able to face? Is it not most important that urgent attention should be given to this problem by the Minister to try to sort out the differences between Birmingham Corporation and Tamworth?

§ Mr. Brooke
I am certainly ready to use my good offices in any direction. This is a large scheme which was to be spread over some seven years. I appreciate that Tamworth Borough Council is doubtful about going forward with it at present rates of interest. Nevertheless, I hope that it will continue its discussions with Birmingham and that a practical outcome will follow.

§ 40. Mr. Snow
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the anxiety felt in Tamworth that the Corporation of Birmingham does not appear to be aware of the need to assist in the provision of industry for the overspill population coming to Tamworth under the present plan; and what advice the Regional Board of Industry has therefore given to the borough of Tamworth in the matter of industrial development for Tamworth which is required for the working population which will be available under the overspill scheme agreed between the borough of Tamworth and Birmingham Corporation.

§ Mr. H. Brooke
I am not aware of anxiety in Tamworth on this score, and so far as I know the Regional Board for Industry has not been asked to advise. Birmingham Corporation and the councils of the adjoining counties have made arrangements for bringing to the notice of industrialists the opportunities which exist for moving to the areas, including Tamworth, where overspill from Birmingham is to be received.

§ Mr. Snow
If the right hon. Gentleman is not aware of local anxiety, may I ask him to wake up his Department so that he is properly informed? It is apparent from reports in local newspapers in the last month or so that there is this anxiety. If the Regional Board for Industry has not offered him advice, why not? There is at present an agreement between the Corporation of Birmingham and Tamworth for the encouragement of the decanting of industry to the overspill 212 areas, but no such plans have yet been put into operation and there is fear as to what will be done with the incoming overspill population?

§ Mr. Brooke
I am ready to help in any way I can, and so, I am sure, is my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, but I must inform the hon. Member that my Department has had no representations from Tamworth in the matter of industry; nor has the Regional Board for Industry heard anything. If he likes to pursue the matter, I hope that he will be able to provide me with further information.