§ 10. Mr. Abseasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the high proportion of obsolescent houses in South Wales and Monmouthshire and the present difficulties of small local authorities, he will take steps to initiate a housing consortium of local authorities in the region.
§ Sir K. JosephI am arranging conferences of Welsh local authorities to discuss all aspects of housing, including the possibility of joint action. The hon. Member will remember that I made a suggestion about these conferences in the Welsh Grand Committee debate on Housing on 18th July, 1962.
§ Mr. AbseMight I express the hope that the Minister will call this conference early and that, in particular, he will consider the question of staffing the Welsh office with sufficient technical staff to serve the needs of the small local authorities which are desperate for technical staff?
§ Sir K. JosephThe first conference was held yesterday at Machynlleth. Others will follow in the winter, and I certainly agree with the rest of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question.