HC Deb 19 July 1962 vol 663 cc618-9
23. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what special action, if necessary by legislation, he will now take to deal with the further increase in the number of homeless persons in London.

Sir K. Joseph

Before deciding what action may be necessary, I shall study the report of the London County Council's committee of inquiry and hear the views of the council. I have already agreed to meet representatives of the council for this purpose.

Mr. Lipton

As the previous Minister failed to tackle the scandal of the growing number of homeless in the London area, will the new Minister give an assurance that he will not merely follow the ineffective policies of his predecessor but will take drastic action to deal with a shameful state of affairs?

Sir K. Joseph

I do not accept the charges of the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend was ineffective. The House must realise that there are in London fewer residents and more houses, but because of the high number of households as opposed to people, there is still great competition for dwellings. It is a fact that there should be dwellings for the poorest, since there are about 300,000 subsidised dwellings in the L.C.C. boundaries, but rigidity—a rigidity which is sometimes associated with humanity—tends to freeze tenancies. This is a very big problem.

Mr. M. Stewart

Does the Minister remember that his predecessor took the view that this was something to be solved entirely by action by the London County Council, but that the recent report has made it quite clear that that is not so? Does he realise, therefore, that he must look at this problem with a fresh mind?

Sir K. Joseph

I do not think that my right hon. Friend took that simple view of what is a very complex problem. Of course, it is not caused by any one factor; a number of factors are involved, and I shall continue the active study initiated by my right hon. Friend and helped by the report the London County Council has had prepared.

Mr. Stewart

Will the Minister refresh his mind on this? Does not he recall that his right hon. Friend said specifically that all the problems arising out of this situation could be dealt with by L.C.C. action? Will he now agree that that is not so?

Sir K. Joseph

I doubt whether my right hon. Friend said anything as simple as that. The L.C.C. has a great part to play in this, but the factors are wider than those under L.C.C. control alone. That I accept.