HC Deb 28 April 1971 vol 816 cc417-9
33. Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he has offered to housing associations in Greater London undertaking house improvement and conversion towards the improvement of their organisation and operations.

Mr. Amery

My Standing Working Party on London Housing is considering ways and means of helping housing associations in Greater London to operate more effectively.

Last month I sent to London housing authorities and associations a report by the working party suggesting, in particular, a system of zoning in order to avoid overlapping of operations.

Mr. Gummer

I thank my right hon. Friend. Would he not agree that housing associations are already making a considerable contribution to the rehousing of people, particularly in boroughs, like Lewisham, which were quick off the mark to use them? Some have so far shown a rather inefficient central organisation, however, and anything he can do in this way would help considerably.

Mr. Amery

I agree that they are making a vital contribution. I regard them as a third force in building, along with the public and private sectors. We shall do what we can to help them.

Mr. Molloy

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, while housing associations might make a contribution, the main contribution to the housing of those desperately in need must come from the local authorities? When will Mr. Plummer of the G.L.C. be giving instructions to the London boroughs to make their applications to him to visit them with his cheque book to buy land to help solve the housing problems in their areas?

Mr. Amery

The record of the G.L.C. in this matter is outstanding. It has done a remarkable job of rehousing people from the Inner London boroughs, and it deserves the congratulations of this House.

Mr. Freeson

Will the right hon. Gentleman also congratulate the Conservative G.L.C. on cutting the house-building programme from 9,000 a year—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Question on the Order Paper relates to assistance to housing associations. I have already allowed the supplementary questions to go wide enough.

Mr. Freeson

Following the Minister's reply, and arising from it, will he also congratulate the G.L.C. on its outstanding record in cutting the housing starts programme from 9,000 in 1967—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I allowed a supplementary question from the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) which went rather beyond the Question on the Order Paper, and I allowed the Minister to answer him. I am not prepared to allow the supplementary question being put by the hon. Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Freeson) or an answer to it by the Minister.

Mr. Freeson

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question—

Mr. Jopling

Cheating.

Mr. Freeson

I am addressing my remarks to Mr. Speaker. With respect, Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question arose from the Minister's own reply. Will you reconsider your observation that my supplementary question was out of order whereas the Minister's reply which gave rise to it was in order?

Mr. Speaker

I think the fault was mine. I allowed the hon. Member for Ealing, North to put a supplementary question which was really out of order, and I allowed the Minister to answer it. That must conclude the matter. Mr. Lane—Question No. 34.

Mr. Molloy

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Would it be possible for the hon. Gentleman to raise his point of order at the end of Question Time?

Mr. Molloy

I will be very brief, Mr. Speaker. The Question on the Order Paper relates to housing associations and local authorities. The House of Commons was informed that the Leader of the G.L.C. was prepared to take his cheque book to any London borough to buy land either for housing associations or for local authorities. I simply wanted to know whether the Minister could enlighten us further and say when that would take place.

Mr. Speaker

I have now called Mr. Lane for Question No. 34.