HC Deb 22 November 1973 vol 864 cc1549-50
Q6. Mr. Carter

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint to the Central Policy Review body a member with special responsibility for urban renewal.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Greville Janner) on 8th November.—[Vol. 863, c. 1165–6.]

Mr. Carter

When will the Prime Minister and the Government take seriously the grave problems of our major cities? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, of every three people who now come to my advice bureau, two come about housing, or related matters? What specific proposals have he and his Government to deal with the quite appalling housing conditions in our major cities?

The Prime Minister

These have been explained in the White Paper. Birmingham is one of the towns in the six town studies launched by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment. As I understand it, Birmingham is glad to be treated in this way.

Mr. Ridley

Could not the answer to the problem raised by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) be to encourage the property developers instead of trying to blame them for all our economic problems?

The Prime Minister

There are many areas of the country which have greatly benefited from them. There are certain new towns which have developed the technique of using property developers for very rapid development of housing in the new towns, and some of them that I have seen have certainly been comparable in price with what can be obtained outside, and in some cases cheaper.

Mr. Stonehouse

If the so-called "think tank" is to have any value, is it not vital that it should be completely objective? What steps is the Prime Minister taking to ensure its independence of thought and action?

The Prime Minister

It has complete independence of thought and action. It is part of the Cabinet Secretariat. It is, therefore, under the Estacode, which is the rules for the rest of the Civil Service; but otherwise it is completely free in thought and action.