§ 32. Mr. Harperasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will seek power to give financial assistance to local authorities in the receiving mining districts to house the incoming miners from other areas.
§ Mr. CorfieldHelp for such local authorities has been available since 1956 under a general power to meet the urgent needs of industry. A special subsidy of £24 a year for sixty years is payable for each new house built under approved schemes for incoming workers.
§ Mr. HarperDoes the Parliamentary Secretary believe that this help goes far enough? Is he aware of the already intolerable burden that these local authorities have to carry—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."]—in relation to housing owing to high interest rates? If so, will he have a further look at this problem and take steps to provide a real incentive for these authorities to provide the dwellings which, owing to Government policy, are so desperately needed?
§ Mr. CorfieldIn reply to the hon Member's speech, I tell him that 6,000 houses have been approved under the 653 special arrangements and of these—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."]—1,500 have been provided by the Coal Industry Housing Association. Arrangements have been approved for nearly 2,000 more houses, although tenders have not yet been submitted.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Henderson.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order. In view of the fact that I did not hear a word that the Minister said, could he repeat his Answer?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo. I have called the next Question, to the Prime Minister.