HC Deb 25 March 1969 vol 780 cc1256-7
20. Mr. Ford

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has received from the Bradford City Council for the placing of contracts for new housing during the current year; and what decision he has reached on these proposals.

Mr. Greenwood

In 1966 Bradford let contracts for more than 1,200 new dwellings; but since then the Council has submitted proposals for only two schemes totalling 20 dwellings, both of which I have approved. As a large proportion of the housing in the city is unfit or obsolescent, I hope that the City Council will come forward with further proposals; and I shall be entering into discussions with it on this.

Mr. Ford

I thank my right hon. Friend, but does he not agree that this disgraceful position is repeated in many towns throughout the country which are under Conservative local authorities in what amounts almost to a conspiracy directed from the Conservative Central Office? Will he take as stringent steps as possible to remedy the situation?

Mr. Greenwood

As I have said, I am shortly to enter into discussions with Bradford City Council about this, and I hope that my hon. Friend will, therefore, forgive me for not scuppering them at the beginning by agreeing with absolutely everything he has said. There is a good deal of truth in what he has said about Conservative local authorities, but the public will be quick to notice if those local authorities begin to cut down housing programmes which were started under Labour control.

Mr. Arthur Jones

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Bradford City authority is giving great encouragement to the provision of houses through housing associations and societies?

Mr. Greenwood

Bradford is doing well with slum clearance, and I hope this will be followed by an active house building programme. The corporation is making a contribution through encouraging housing associations, but I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that housing associations cannot make up the need for rented accommodation in a city the size of Bradford.

Mr. Edward Lyons

Will my right hon. Friend point out to Bradford City Council that a rapid rate of slum clearance accompanied by building no new houses can only mean contraction of the city?

Mr. Greenwood

I have no doubt that the officials of Bradford Corporation will study HANSARD very carefully and take account of what my hon. Friend has said.