§ 18. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in areas of high under-occupancy and severe shortage of building land, he will make special grants to encourage local authorities to redevelop council houses as single-person dwellings.
§ Mr. MacCollIn suitable cases grants are paid for the conversion of council houses into flats but I would not favour the demolition of fit houses.
§ Mr. PriceIs my hon. Friend aware that most of the council estates built in the 1920s were solely three-bedroomed family houses, and that the old people who now almost exclusively live in them are most reluctant to live a long way away, so that conversion is not enough and demolition will very soon be the answer?
§ Mr. MacCollA great deal can be done by conversion, and by prudent management in moving people nearer their families, so that one can reduce the amount of under-occupation in particular areas.
§ Mr. AllasonCould the Minister tell us what investigation the Ministry is undertaking into under-occupation in the public and private sectors, or whether they feel that they already have that information?
§ Mr. MacCollFrom time to time we have sample surveys into the state of houses, but the responsibility for management is essentially that of the local housing authority, not of my right hon. Friend.