§ 6. Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many general improvement areas have been designated since September, 1971.
§ Mr. SutcliffeIs my right hon. Friend satisfied with this rate of progress? Will he do all he can to encourage a faster rate of progress in view of the transformation that these areas can bring about?
§ Mr. AmeryNo, Sir, I am certainly not satisfied. I think it is a good start, but I want to see many more local authorities follow the lead of those which have already embarked on this well worth while policy of improving wholly residential areas.
§ Mr. KaufmanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the City of Manchester, where we have one of the gravest housing problems in the entire country and where a large number of building workers are out of work, we could develop many more of these areas 397 if he would only abandon his obduracy and include us in the provisions of the Housing Act, 1971?
§ Mr. AmeryThe hon. Gentleman can already get a good deal done with the existing generous financial support given by the central Government, through the declaration of general improvement areas and with ordinary improvements.