§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, considering the increasingly large number of persons that will require to be housed in the next ten years, it is going to be their policy to continue providing for this increasing population by the same methods as have been formerly employed, i.e., by largely using agricultural or other unoccupied land as building sites; or whether it is the intention to conduct a most intensive slum clearance campaign and on the sites thus cleared to construct much taller buildings which will give living space for a far greater number of people than has so far been the case; or whether they are considering an entirely new departure for accommodating our people by organising an active campaign to move a large proportion of the population out of Great Britain into various parts of the Commonwealth.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, there is no reason to think that the accommodation in this country of the increased population to be expected in the next ten years, or indeed in the foreseeable future, will present any unsurmountable difficulties. Much land at present undeveloped will inevitably be needed and the aim must be to make the best possible use of all supplies. My right honourable friend will continue to encourage the intensive redevelopment 1120 of all urban areas which are suitable for this treatment; but it must be recognised that there are distinct limits to the extent to which the populations of built-up areas can be increased if congestion of all kinds is not to become intolerable. It is by no means always true that the construction of much taller buildings gives living space for a far greater number of people, when allowance is made for increased living space and for better roads, for recreation, for schools and so forth.
No doubt many people will choose in the future, as in the past, to make their homes in Commonwealth countries but this should be a matter of free choice. The need for providing for the housing of the population provides no ground for seeking to stimulate the outflow.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, has he any information that he can give to the House indicating where the large developments will take place which will include the housing for these obviously needy people?
EARL JELLICOEI do not think I should wish to give any precise information on that. But I should just like to inform my noble friend that intensive regional studies of all the problems affecting the major conurbations are now being undertaken with that in view.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, is it not desirable, from another point of view, that the centres of cities should be utilised for housing purposes—namely, to recreate a communal sense? And is it not true that at the moment the centres of many big cities are empty at at night except for caretakers and cats?
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government press British Railways to release the very large quantities of sterile land in their possession, for housing purposes?
EARL JELLICOEThat particular matter is now under discussion, I may inform my noble friend, between the Departments concerned.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, unfortunately, there are ample areas of slums in this 1121 country which could be cleared; and have the Government in mind any definite steps about utilising those areas for intensive building, and building even higher than in the past, so that many more people can be accommodated on those same sites than are at present?
EARL JELLICOEPriority is, of course, being given to slum clearance; that is very much Government policy. But I would remind my noble friend that in most slum areas the existing population is often at an intolerably high density.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, in that case, could the Minister say whether they have yet any firm estimate as to the extent of the acreage of agricultural land that it is intended to acquire for housing and industrial development?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I do not think that I could give a firm answer on industrial development, but our departmental estimate is that in the next ten years something of the order of 150,000 acres of agricultural land will be needed for housing. That is, of course, well under 1 per cent. of the total agricultural land in the country.
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, could the noble Earl say, approximately, the density of persons per acre calculated in arriving at that figure?