§ 6. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department will undertake a survey into the extent and causes of rent arrears amongst the district council housing authorities of Wales.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIt has already been arranged that such a survey shall be carried out in England and Wales this year by the Institute of Housing. I am grateful to the Institute for offering to undertake this survey.
§ Mr. WigleyWill the Minister confirm or deny that in the first place the Welsh Office refused to undertake such a survey as is being undertaken by the Department of the Environment because of staffing problems? If so, is this a general problem? What does he intend to do about it?
§ Mr. Alec JonesWe have had lengthy discussions, naturally, on the question of the survey and what it should contain, when it should take place and who should finance it. I am delighted that the decision has been made to go ahead with a survey to give us the sort of information which will be of help.