HC Deb 18 November 1965 vol 720 cc1331-2
Q4. Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements are made to co-ordinate the activities of the Ministries of Health, Education, Transport and Housing and Local Government in those areas of rapid town expansion under the overspill programmes.

The Prime Minister

Those necessary, Sir.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the Prime Minister accept that in the expanding town of Haverhill in my constituency the provision of medical and social facilities, including shops and schools, is lagging far behind the build-up of population, and will he urge upon his right hon. Friends to try and achieve a much better balance in these town expansion programmes?

The Prime Minister

I am well aware of the hon. Gentleman's concern. I have seen a report of his speech in the Haverhill Echoof 10th September. I thought that a lot of what he said was very much to the point. I have had the same problem in an expanding town in my own constituency. If he cannot get satisfaction on this question from the local authorities or the Minister of Housing, I hope that he will bring any evidence of lack of co-ordination to me.

Mr. Deedes

Is the Prime Minister aware that there is really a problem here? We have no machinery comparable to the new town machinery for the rapid expansion of these towns which his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing has put in hand and, as a result, an overwhelming task is being laid on the shoulders of relatively small authorities.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. Having put almost that same question from those benches for some three years in the case of Kirby in my own constituency, which is a classic of this problem, I agree there is a problem, and that is what my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is dealing with, and he must be the co-ordinating authority.