HC Deb 18 February 1969 vol 778 cc185-6
12. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that design- nated new towns provide houses for a proportion of immigrant families from areas with a high percentage of immigrants.

The Minister for Planning and Land (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)

The administration of public housing in new towns is the responsibility of the development corporation concerned, working along the lines of Government policy. In the Government's view, the allocation of houses should be based upon housing need, without distinction as to the applicant's country of origin.

Mrs. Short

Relating this Question to Question No. 11, does not my right hon. Friend think that if a directive were issued by his Department it would go some way to contributing to the needs, both in terms of jobs and housing, of many of these families?

Mr. Robinson

No, Sir. I do not think that it would be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to issue a directive to new towns on a matter of this kind. I repeat that housing need should be the criterion on which allocation is based.