HC Deb 14 March 1961 vol 636 cc1176-8
23. Mr. Ginsburg

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the establishment and what are the qualifications of the staff of his Department employed on statistical duties in connection with general housing matters.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Mr. Henry Brooke)

Thirty of my staff are directly employed on such duties. The section is headed by a statistician who is supported by executive and clerical staff.

Mr. Ginsburg

Is the Minister aware that concern has been expressed in many quarters about the adequacy of his Department's statistics compared with the statistics of other Ministries? Will the Minister look again at the Imperial Calendar, which suggests that the staff devoted to housing is very thin on the ground?

Mr. Brooke

I find my staff adequate to perform the duties which I require of them. I am not aware of any of these criticisms. Of course, I have the benefit of the assistance of the Central Statistical Office, the Social Survey, the General Register Office, and other departments. If the hon. Member has in mind particular shortcomings which he suspects, perhaps he will let me know about them.

24. Mr. Ginsburg

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the establishment and what are the qualifications of the staff of his Department employed on intelligence and research duties in connection with general housing matters.

Mr. Brooke

This depends upon the meaning which the hon. Member attaches to "intelligence and research". As the words are used in my Department over 170 of my staff are so employed. Among them are qualified geographers, economists, sociologists, architects, engineers, chemists, planners, quantity surveyors, estate officers and valuers.

Mr. Ginsburg

Is not the Minister aware that the figures which he has been quoting to me refer to the purely town planning side of his activities? Concerning housing, are not the considerations that I outlined in the previous Question correct? How is it possible without good research to have an adequate housing policy for the nation?

Mr. Brooke

As I said in reply to the hon. Member's previous supplementary question, if he feels that there are matters on which it would be valuable for my Department to collect or publish further information, I shall be glad if he will let me know.

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