Peterlee (Hansard, 14 March 1961)

§ 37. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is contemplating any changes in the appointment of members to the board of the Peterlee Corporation.

§ Mr. Brooke
Yes, Sir. I am in process of consulting the local authorities about the filling of a vacancy, as the Act requires.

§ Mr. Shinwell
While I have no desire to be consulted nor expect to be asked my opinion in a matter of this sort, may I ask, is it not common courtesy to advise the Member for the constituency when changes of this kind are made—and to make it applicable not to Peterlee only but to all the new towns?

§ Mr. Brooke
I certainly desire no discourtesy to the right hon. Gentleman, but I do not think it has been the practice before on the part of Ministers of this or other Governments to consult the Members of Parliament but to abide by the requirement of the Act, which is that the local authority shall be consulted.

§ Mr. Shinwell
I have not asked to be consulted. Would the right hon. Gentleman listen to what hon. Members ask him? What I ask is that when changes of this kind are made the Members concerned ought to be told about them instead of getting the information elsewhere.

§ Mr. Brooke
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to accept my assurance that I intended no discourtesy to him whatever?

§ Mr. Nabarro
The right hon. Gentleman should buy his local newspaper.

§ 38. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses it is estimated will be built and completed in the new town of Peterlee in 1961.

§ Mr. Brooke
About 350.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Are we making sufficient practical progress in Peterlee? What has gone wrong with the corporation? What has gone wrong with the Minister?

§ Mr. Brooke
There is nothing wrong with the Minister or with the corporation. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, there was something wrong about the contractors who were doing the principal building there. He also knows that I have done my very best to get that cleared up and to expedite the completion of these houses, and I think that it is happening now.

§ Mr. M. Stewart
My right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) also asked what has gone wrong with the Minister. In view of the length of the reply which would be required to that question, will the right hon. Gentleman include it in the OFFICIAL REPORT?