§ 1. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps, in advance of the publication of the Maud Report, to reorganise local government into larger units so that housing construction may be more economically organised.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Robert Mellish)No, Sir. My right hon. Friend could not contemplate two general reorganisations of local government within a few years of each other.
§ Mrs. ShortBut is my hon. Friend aware that many local authorities, with the best will in the world, find themselves unable to press ahead with their housing programmes, especially when they want to use industrialised building systems and long runs are absolutely essential for this? 1324 Would he look at this again with a view to setting up large regional housing corporations?
§ Mr. MellishMy hon. Friend is well known for her efforts, particularly on industrialised building systems. I think that she is aware that the Government have done a great deal in bringing about consortia of local authorities. There is a vast number of them. I shall send her a detailed list. I think that she will be very impressed with what has been done already.