HC Deb 03 February 1970 vol 795 c194
8. Mr. Graham Page

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now state the Government's policy on the Report of the Working Party on Housing Revenue Accounts.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Denis Howell)

I have nothing to add to the answer to a question by the hon. Member for Northants, South (Mr. Arthur Jones) on 16th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 1124.]

Mr. Page

Did not this Committee report nine or ten months ago? Is no policy coming from the Government as a result?

Mr. Howell

This Committee was looking into very detailed technical questions. Its object was to elucidate and to identify the technical problems of housing revenue accounts. It was circulated with the agreement of the local authority associations, without commitment on either side, which is what they wished to have, but the long-term review of housing finance which has been undertaken will take into account what the Committee told us.

Mr. Mapp

Has the working party considered in detail the difficulty of unfit houses in those towns with a heavy backlog? If so, has my hon. Friend anything in mind so that those old towns could have some particular treatment in the near future?

Mr. Howell

That was not one of the terms of reference of the Committee, but certainly the question of the financial strain of slum clearance is part of the long-term review of housing finance which we are undertaking.