HC Deb 12 May 1971 vol 817 cc363-4
30. Mr. Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sub- jects he intends to discuss at his June meeting with the London boroughs.

Mr. Channon

My right hon. Friend will be writing to the boroughs in due course and will suggest in his letter the main topics to be discussed.

Mr. Atkinson

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that normal family relationships are cruelly distorted when teenage youngsters are compelled to sleep with or in the same room as their parents? Is it not a good principle of civilisation that normal families should have access to and the privacy of their own lavatories? When the hon. Gentleman meets the London boroughs, will he tell them that he expects them to give the highest priority to the rehousing of families where teenage children are sleeping in the same bedrooms as their parents and where families have to go through someone else's bedroom or dining room to get to a lavatory at night? Should not these families have the highest priority for housing?

Mr. Channon

Certainly the problem of London's housing is extremely difficult, and I have great sympathy with what the hon. Gentleman said. My right hon. Friend has urged the London boroughs on many occasions to co-operate in this matter, and I believe that they are doing so.

Mr. Atkinson

It is on the agenda?