§ 2. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will authorise the building of a limited number of aged people's dwellings in Category D villages in the Bishop Auckland constituency.
§ Mr. RipponMy right hon. Friend will' consider on its merits any proposal for development in these villages which requires his authorisation. He has now before him five appeals by the Bishop Auckland Urban District Council relating to the erection of 44 dwellings for old people in five villages in their area. A public local inquiry will be held and he will give his decision after he has received and studied the inspector's report.
§ Mr. BoydenWill the Minister consider this matter sympathetically when he gets the report? Is he aware that many of these old people who want new bungalows and who have lived in these old industrial villages for a long time will be heartbroken if they have to move away to Bishop Auckland?
§ Mr. RipponI am sure that my right hon. Friend will consider all the evidence that is put forward.