HC Deb 20 December 1972 vol 848 cc1325-7
35. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of the local authorities which are still refusing to implement the Housing Finance Act, the names of those councils for which the Government Auditor is taking or has taken an extraordinary audit, and the names of the local authorities where a housing commissioner has been instructed to take over the housing responsibilities.

Mr. Channon

The London Borough of Camden and the urban district councils of Clay Cross and Conisbrough are the only English authorities not implementing the Act. An extraordinary audit of the Housing Revenue Accounts of Clay Cross and Conisbrough is in progress. No housing commissioners have been appointed in England.

Mr. Wainwright

Why is not the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend playing fair and just with every local authority in England, Wales and Scotland? Why have Merthyr Tydfil, Bedwas and Machen had housing commissioners appointed to them while authorities in England have not? If the Act is so fair and just, why do not the Government appoint housing commissioners so that they can carry out the Act immediately?

Mr. Channon

My responsibility extends only to England. No housing commissioners have been appointed in England, and my right hon. Friend will be reluctant to appoint them. I understand that it is the general view of the House that commissioners should be appointed only as a last step.

Mr. George Thomas

With great respect to what the hon. Gentleman said, is not the Government's policy the same in England as in Wales? Does not exactly the same Act apply to both countries? Can the hon. Gentleman explain why the Government adopt one policy in Wales and another in England?

Mr. Channon

The Housing Finance Act applies to England and Wales, but not to Scotland. My right hon. Friend has to judge what is the best situation in Wales. As I understand it, the hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wainwright) is suggesting that we should adopt the Welsh practice, but I think the right hon. Gentleman's view is that he should adopt the English practice.

36. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the first notification arrived at his Department from the Clerk of the Conisbrough Urban District Council, saying that that council would not implement the Housing Finance Bill or Act; and if he will make a statement as to why he has not acceded to that local authority's request that a housing commissioner should be appointed to take over its housing responsibilities.

Mr. Channon

24th August. It is the duty of local authorities to carry out the housing responsibilities laid on them by Parliament. The action to be taken against local authorities in default depends in each case on the particular circumstances. My right hon. and learned Friend is under no obligation to appoint a commissioner.

Mr. Wainwright

But what do the Government expect to achieve by the action they have taken? What is the objective behind it? Is it to try to make certain that local authorities are in the position that no local councillors want to take over the responsibility? Why did not the Government, at the request of the council, send a housing commissioner to Conisbrough so that the Housing Finance Act could be put into operation? Is it true that it was a low, mean and squalid action by the Government to try to compel councillors to do a job which they think they are not warranted to do?

Mr. Channon

The hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. Local authorities have some statutory duties imposed upon them by Parliament, and it is the duty of local authorities to comply with them. They cannot pick and choose between statutory duties and decide to abide by some which they like and not to carry out those which they do not. Local authorities have a duty to abide by all statutory obligations placed upon them.

Only three local authorities in England are not implementing the Housing Finance Act. I very much hope that in the interests of everyone concerned local authorities will abide their statutory duties. I hope, too, that the hon. Gentleman will use his good influence to persuade his urban district council to abide by its statutory duty.

Mr. Stallard

What criteria did the hon. Gentleman use in the exercise of his discretion under the Housing Finance Act not to send a housing commissioner into Camden council but to try instead to blackmail the council by his threat to withdraw all housing subsidies?

Mr. Channon

There is no question of blackmail. There are many housing authorities in England, and only three are in default of their duties under the Housing Finance Act. It is the duty of local authorities to comply with their statutory obligations, and anyone who tries to take a different view is doing a great disservice to his constituents and to the local authority concerned.