§ 6. Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take further steps, by legislation or otherwise, to standardise 180 the methods of allocation of council housing throughout the country.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. James MacColl)At my right hon. Friend's request, the Central Housing Advisory Committee has reconstituted the Housing Management Sub-Committee, to suggest rules or principles to be followed in allocating council housing, and he will consider what further steps may need to be taken on receiving the Sub-Committee's report.
§ Dr. DunwoodyWould my hon. Friend not agree that there is still a very great deal of ill-feeling, not always justified, throughout the country, about council house allocation, and that if a standardised method could be evolved, and waiting lists made available to the general public, not only would justice be done, but it would be seen to be done?
§ Mr. MacCollI quite agree with my hon. Friend, and I took the opportunity when addressing the annual conference of the Institute of Housing to make this one of the main subjects of my address.
§ Mr. John HallWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that there is one aspect of the problem which may benefit from standardisation, namely, the situation which arises when people in search of temporary accommodation have to move over a boundary from one area to another, as a result of which they are struck off one list and never get on the other? Would he not agree that this problem requires attention?
§ Mr. MacCollThat is one of the points I particularly mentioned. I drew the attention of the Sub-Committee to this, and asked for its advice.