§ 10. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he will take to encourage local authorities to increase the number of municipal houses under construction in those areas where the need is evident.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI do not think local authorities require encouragement to recognise their duty. They are well aware of the needs and are doing their best to meet them.
§ Mr. SwinglerIf it is the purpose of the Minister under the Housing Act to secure provision of homes for the people at reasonable rents, is he aware that this purpose is not being carried out in many part of the country where, apart from slum clearance, no council houses are being built? What is the Minister doing about it, because he is the chief stumbling block?
§ Mr. BrookeI recommend any local authority which wants to build houses and feels that it cannot do so without fixing the rents too high to review rents of all its existing houses to see that it is not unnecessarily paying out subsidy.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, notwithstanding all these fine assurances, the housing situation in London is worse now than it was in 1951? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Yes, it is worse now than it was in 1951 and people are continuing to pour into London. What is he doing to help local authorities in the London area to solve this problem?
§ Mr. BrookeI have no doubt whatever that the London situation, although still serious, is far better than it was when the Labour Government were in power.