HL Deb 21 November 1973 vol 346 cc1053-5

2.39 p.m.

THE EARL OF DUDLEY

My 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:

  1. (a) whether they intend to publish the finding of the Second Homes Survey for which questionnaires have been sent out by the Department of the Environment; and
  2. (b) what total sum of public money has been allocated and authorised by them to meet the anticipated cost of the survey.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BARONESS YOUNG)

My Lords, I understand that the South West Economic Planning Council intend to publish the results of the study of second homes in the South West Region which they have asked the Economic Planning Board to undertake for them. The extra cost to public funds of the survey is not expected to exceed £4,000.

THE EARL OF DUDLEY

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for the unfailing courtesy of her reply. May I ask her to bear in mind that the recipients of this questionnaire—and I would tell your Lordships that I was one—would have justifiable cause for concern at some of the questions asked in the document, and also to bear in mind that if this survey was undertaken in the public interest, it would be very much better for the findings to be published, while preserving the anonymity of those who replied to the questions.

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, I should like to give an assurance that the survey was carried out upon an entirely voluntary basis and there was no obligation on anyone to fill in the form. Furthermore, all the information that has been collected will be treated as confidential and will not be passed on to any other people or other Government Departments. In view, however, of the concern that has been expressed by my noble friend on this matter, I will draw his remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, could the noble Baroness say what the word "confidential" means in this sense? It means, I take it, that the information will not be published. Does it mean that the forms will be confined to the narrow circle of the Department of the Environment?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, the information that is collected on the forms will be published, but the actual forms themselves will be destroyed. The only thing available to anybody will be what appears publicly.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, does not the noble Baroness think that it would be much better in the interest of the country if the Government, rather than conducting social surveys and sending out questionnaires, got down to the job of encouraging the building of more houses instead of cutting them down, as they did last year, to the lowest total for 10 years?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, a great deal of interest has been expressed on the subject of second homes, and this survey was undertaken to try to obtain some information about them.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, does not the noble Baroness think that some attention ought to be given to the people who want first homes?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, a great deal of attention is being given to that subject.

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, did the noble Baroness say that this survey was costing only £4,000? How is this done? What can one buy for £4,000 nowadays?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, the noble Viscount did hear me correctly. I said in my original Answer that the cost was not expected to exceed £4,000.