§ 10. Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the Shelter Organisation's recommendation in Shelter Paper No. 2, a copy of which is in his possession, that local authorities should maintain a housing register containing details of all properties within each local authority's boundaries.
§ Mr. ChannonI read this paper with interest but do not believe that a housing register would be the best answer to the problems outlined.
§ Mr. ParkinsonI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that 200,000 houses a year are still becoming unfit? This suggestion by Shelter might be a contribution to tackling this problem and anticipating houses becoming unfit.
§ Mr. ChannonI will certainly consider again what my hon. Friend says. There are immense practical difficulties about 1321 a housing register. As regards the other suggestions made in the Shelter Paper, local authorities largely have the powers. I hope that the new slum clearance subsidy will be a considerable help to local authorities in dealing with their slum problems.
§ Mr. FreesonI agree that local authorities have the powers, but does not the Question ask by implication that the Minister should encourage local authorities to act? Should not effective housing advisory centres take this suggestion aboard as a central part of their activity? The idea is to have a central register, particularly in areas of stress.
§ Mr. ChannonThat is a sensible idea. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased that great progress is being made with the creation of housing aid centres, which can provide a very useful service in this and many other matters.