§ Q1. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official meeting with the Leader of the GLC.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)I met Sir Reginald Goodwin, who was accompanied by the Director-General of the GLC, at 10 Downing Street on 11th January. We had a useful and constructive discussion about the causes of the problems facing London and about ways of dealing with them. Sir Reginald Goodwin suggested that the Government and the GLC should undertake a joint assessment of the future staffing requirements of London's services. I welcomed this suggestion and said that I would consider how the GLC could collaborate with the work which is in progress within the Government.
§ Mr. CoxWhile I note that reply, may I ask the Prime Minister, in view of the recent action by the Chancellor, whether he is aware that unless very generous help is given to the GLC and to other authorities throughout the country, the position will worsen? Is he aware that while in 1970 he pranced round the country claiming that he would create a one-nation society, the action which he and the Chancellor have been taking has divided the country more than anything else? Now, when the going is getting tough, does he intend to run away from the problems?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot accept what the hon. Gentleman is saying. Those are not views which were put forward by Sir Reginald Goodwin. We discussed particular aspects of these problems, such as housing and ways in which the GLC and the Government were already acting to meet them. We also discussed some of the causes of the present difficulties, in particular the change in movement of the population in the Greater London area from the inner area to the outer area. This makes it extremely difficult for those who normally would be working in the public services to live close enough to their work. Neither of us thought that these were easy problems to solve, but we are to carry out a joint assessment of London's total requirements. Then we can see what further can be done to help.
§ Mr. William ClarkWhen my right hon. Friend met the Leader of the GLC, did he suggest that it would be much better for the GLC not to waste money buying rented properties around London? Did he suggest that it would be much better advised to spend money on developing the dockland so that we can produce new houses rather than gain extra utilisation from existing houses?
§ The Prime MinisterWe discussed both of those things in some detail. My hon. Friend will realise that a different time phasing is connected with any action taken by the GLC, on, for example, rented property. I know that the present GLC administration—as was its predecessor—is keen to see dockland development going ahead as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. SpearingThe Prime Minister has rightly said that one of the problems is the provision of housing for those who provide London's services. Does he recall that a year ago his Minister of Housing refused to initiate an inquiry into the effects of the free market in land and property which flourishes in London, causing over 100 evictions in my constituency? If he now puts a shackle on the miners, preventing them from using their bargaining power, why will he not shackle those who exploit the land and property market in London?
§ The Prime MinisterThis was not a question raised with me by Sir Reginald Goodwin. It was not an aspect to which he was asking the Government to address themselves. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular constituency problem, my right hon. Friend will of course be prepared to look at it.