§ 23. Sir L. Plummerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what recommendations he has made in reply to the communication from the Ipswich Council concerning the terms under which they propose to let their council houses.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have received no communication on this matter from the Ipswich Council.
§ Sir L. PlummerIs the Minister aware that this authority employs inspectors to go to the homes of tenants to inquire whether the inside of the home is kept tidy or not, on pain of eviction? Will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions to councils and use his authority to see that this interference with the private lives of tenants stops and that tenants of local authorities have as much freedom of action and as much security of tenure as the tenants of private landlords?
§ Mr. BrookeI could not understand the hon. Member's original Question, because Ipswich Council has not communicated at all with me about this matter. Under the Housing Act, 1957, the general management, regulation and control of houses provided by a local 973 authority is vested in and exercised by the authority, and that is laid down by Parliament.
§ Sir L. PlummerBut cannot the right hon. Gentleman express his disapproval of this action, and does he not appreciate that this Question is couched in the form it is because that was the only way that I could get it on the Order Paper?