§ 23. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will request two appropriate borough councils in the London County Council's area and in the extra-Metropolitan area, respectively, to institute inquiries, or to supply him with already available information, in respect of the prevailing incidence of gross overcrowding, the causes and results of eviction, the particular incidence of overcrowding due to immigration, and the effect on rents for rooms arising from the rents for accommodation charged to immigrants.
§ Mr. BrookeLocal authorities affected by these problems in the Greater London area already know a good deal about them. What is needed is action, and I am sure that authorities will make use of the powers in the new Housing Bill to deal with overcrowded houses as soon as it becomes law.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the Minister appreciate that although these local councils may have this information, it is highly desirable that hon. Members should also have it? As it is only his Department that can secure the information for the four different boroughs to which I have referred, will he not reconsider this matter with a view to enlightening hon. Members on the cause of the overcrowding?
§ Mr. BrookeThe hon. Gentleman will find that a great deal of information is coming out as the detailed census reports are made available.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I press the Minister further on this point and ask that for the convenience of hon. Members he will go a bit further than he has done and secure this information for their enlightenment?
§ Mr. BrookeI always seek to give the House as much information as I have, but I do not think that a specific inquiry from me addressed to a couple of boroughs—
§ Mr. SorensenFour.
§ Mr. Brooke—would bring out much more than is already known. Each borough is fairly well informed of the amount of overcrowding, and its causes, in that borough.