HC Deb 26 March 1963 vol 674 cc1111-2
31. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now institute an inquiry into the amount of domestic accommodation available at reasonable rents in the London area; and when he anticipates that sufficient accommodation of this kind will be available.

Sir K. Joseph

As already announced, the Government propose to arrange for an independent committee to make a survey of housing in London. I prefer not to anticipate its conclusions on the availability of accommodation.

Mr. Sorensen

May I ask whether the terms of reference include precisely obtaining the information sought by the Question? Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the information will be available, in view of the fact that some three or four years ago it was indicated that, especially in the London area, a great deal of accommodation would be available to be rented, and there is not such accommodation?

Sir K. Joseph

I will try to make sure that the information is brought out by the inquiry which will have to proceed to some extent as a sample survey. In London and in many other parts of the country rising prosperity has increased the number of households for a given size of population.