§ 17. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Housing and Loal Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will ask for reports from London and extra-metropolitan borough councils to show how many domestic dwellings within their area have been unoccupied for six months or more other than dwellings condemned for demolition; and if he will give further consideration to the need to empower those councils compulsorily to acquire such unused property.
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. Neither do I see any need for giving local authorities additional powers of compulsory purchase, because the existing powers are adequate, and local authorities, which as rating authorities are aware of the facts in their area, are already in a position to take action in suitable cases if they think fit.
§ Mr. SorensenFirst, does not the Minister appreciate that a good many local authorities are not taking this action which I understand he thinks is desirable? Secondly, would it not be of value if he encouraged local authorities to acquaint him with the number of unoccupied dwellings so that he might have an overall picture of the scene?
§ Mr. BrookeI do not think it is necessary. The local authorities in the whole London area not long ago were looking for empty properties which they could acquire in order to end requisitioning. They found is extremely difficult to find suitable properties for that purpose.