§ 8. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proposals are being considered for the reconstruction of war-damaged areas as a means of reducing unemployment.
§ Mr. BevinsMy right hon. Friend certainly has any local unemployment problem very much in mind in considering any reconstruction scheme which local authorities may propose.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs it not a fact that in London and many areas of the country there are wasted spaces which are eyesores and that this contrasts very badly with the reconstruction of war damage which has been done in many Continental countries? For the sake of our own pride and beauty, cannot we seek to remedy this position?
§ Mr. BevinsThat may be true. In many of those areas there is very little unemployment at the present time. Where a local authority desires to acquire areas of war damage for comprehensive development or for the provision of their own services, we are always prepared, where there is unemployment, to look at those cases sympathetically.