17. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further action he is taking to assist in the formation of co-operative housing schemes by the establishment of a Government-financed promoting body.
§ Sir K. JosephI am considering what part co-operative schemes might play in the national housing effort, but I am not yet ready to make a statement.
Mrs. ButlerDoes the Minister appreciate that, despite repeated assurances that co-operative housing schemes will be encouraged, so far not one penny of the £25 million provided by the 1961 Act has gone to a tenants' co-operative housing association? When will the leaflet promised by the last Minister of Housing a year ago be circulated? When will some effective help in buying land and planning and financing these schemes be forthcoming, because the discussions have been going on for a long time?
§ Sir K. JosephThese are all large and very important questions, and I will follow up the particular point about the leaflet which the hon. Lady has raised, but I do not think that she can judge the £25 million scheme simply on its success in helping co-operative ventures. There are a number of projects in the pipeline to use most of the £25 million.
Mrs. SlaterWe quite agree that the success of this scheme cannot be judged on one aspect of it, but does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that at least he could be getting on with this and telling co-operative associations just how much they are likely to receive from this £25 million?