23. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is his estimate of the number of essential workers with low incomes in the Greater London area who need council house accommodation to solve their housing problem; and what is the total number of council houses which have been built in the London area to meet this need.
§ Sir K. JosephI am unable to make any such estimate. But, in the recent 229 White Paper, I estimated that about half a million new dwellings will be needed for Greater London—for all purposes—over the next ten years. The proposed survey of existing housing will provide further information about how housing needs in London are being met. There are at present about 520,000 council houses in Greater London.
Mrs. ButlerIf the Minister does not know how many workers have to live in London in order to keep its services and machinery going, is it not completely unfair and misleading to suggest that they can find accommodation in even a greatly increased stock of council houses? How can the right hon. Gentleman know this if he does not have the figures?
§ Sir K. JosephThe hon. Lady fails to realise that rent-paying capacity is rising the whole while so that, therefore, the choice is open to more and more people. Secondly, the number of people who have to work in London will be and is being constantly altered both by economic factors and Government policy. Thus it would be possible to make only vague estimates of need. We know there is a real need and we are trying to go on filling it.
Mrs. ButlerBut, with respect, we do not know the difference between the workers who have to be here and those who can be moved out? That is the whole point.
§ Sir K. JosephWe know that the workers who must be here want better housing; and that is why we are getting on with the job.