10. Miss Leeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of caravans occupied as permanent homes under Cannock Rural District Council, Staffordshire, the number of council houses under construction, and the estimated number that will be available to let in the next twelve months.
§ Sir K. JosephI understand that there are some 950 caravans occupied as permanent homes within the rural district. The council has 181 houses under construction and estimates that nearly 150 of these will be available for letting in the next twelve months—as well as relets of existing council houses as vacancies occur.
Miss LeeWill the Parliamentary Secretary please note the terrific disparity between the number of caravan dwellers and the hopes of having council houses? Will he also note the price of land in this area, which is now so high that the council is almost afraid to build houses? In those circumstances, will he take very great care to see that no family is asked to leave a caravan site which is properly and hygienically run for a slum back street?
§ Sir K. JosephThe new Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960, provides a guard against the last part of that supplementary question. As to the first part, the hon. Lady should not think that all caravan dwellers are seeking to live in a council house. A large number of them are not seeking that and another large number are on other waiting lists than that of Cannock itself.
Miss LeeI entirely agree with the Parliamentary Secretary that it is very important to distinguish between families who genuinely want to live in caravans and maintain a high standard and families who are forced to live in caravans because they have no other home. It is very important that we do not underestimate the number of the latter.