§ Lord BALERNOMy 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 they will either instruct or request the appropriate local authorities in the United Kingdom to make available more residential accommodation for students and to treat this matter as one of the greatest urgency; and whether they will also ask these local authorities to report, in due course, on the number of students so accommodated.
459§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)My Lords, we hope that where possible local authorities will provide accommodation for single young people as part of their general housing programmes, but it would not be appropriate to urge them to give students priority over other groups in more pressing need.
§ Lord BALERNOMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for her not very informative reply, may I ask her whether she recalls that on 10th June 1974, during the Second Reading of the Rent Bill, it was explicitly stated by the Government, at column 288 of the Official Report, with regard to student residential accommodation that the proper providers of student accommodation were the local housing authorities, and that this House was on that occasion led to believe that millions of pounds had been allocated to this purpose? Would the Minister not agree that more than a year later it is right and proper to discover the extent to which this expenditure is contributing to meeting the acute shortage of student accommodation in certain universities?
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, I think that we first have to be clear that the shortage of student accommodation is only part of the shortage of housing accommodation generally. So far as students are concerned, 45 per cent. of them are accommodated in residential halls and in hostels. In addition, in most universities in this country the accommodation officers are in close touch with the local authorities, and a great deal is being worked out between them. But it is quite impossible to spirit houses out of the ground, and in our present economic situation priority has to be given to where there is the most pressing need. Here families must have priority over students.
§ Lord BALERNOMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her further answer giving information of which I and the universities of this country are fully aware. But might I, with all respect, point out to her that she has not replied to my supplementary question about why the statement made by her colleague in 1974 has not been implemented?
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, the conditions have changed very considerably, as I pointed out, and students have been absorbed in different ways. All that is possible has been done, but it is quite impossible to do something which takes away from the housing stock generally. I would add that one of the important points is that there has been a complete change in the accommodation that is wanted by students. They now want self-contained accommodation on their own, and the movement away from lodgings and "digs" has continued. The implication of the noble Lord is that it is the Rent Act which is responsible for the position, but I am tired of the idea that the Rent Act should he made the bogy for something which is a much wider question.
§ Lord BALERNOMy Lords, might I assure the noble Baroness that it is not the Rent Act alone, and ask her whether she would be so kind as to look back at what her colleague really did say when he made a definite and explicit statement that the local authorities would assist in finding student accommodation, and that millions of pounds were being allotted for that purpose? To the best of my belief—and I should be clad if she could deny this—there has not been one single unit of student accommodation furnished for the coming year after that statement made by her colleague.
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, I shall certainly look into it and, if I may, I shall write to the noble Lord about it. Since then the Minister for Housing has made a statement and has encouraged local authorities, as soon as possible, to build housing where they can for young single people and students would be included in this.
§ Lord SANDYSMy Lords, while recognising the problems that the Government are encountering in their housing priorities, is it not a fact that the Government, in their enforced policy on the University Grants Committee, have not so far provided any arrangements for 1977 or beyond?
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, this is still under consideration and, as I am sure the noble Lord is aware, so is the whole problem of finance for the universities generally. The universities and polytechnics are doing all they can, so far as 461 self-help is concerned. Indeed, I heard this morning of one university where members of the staff have offered to take in students temporarily in order to help. There really is as co-operative an effort as possible. But it is difficult in the present housing situation to be able to give students any really special advantage.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that it is probably far better, from a student's point of view, if local authorities, university authorities and the people of the district concerned get together to provide decent lodging accommodation, where the background of a good home influence and a good landlady would probably be far better for a student than university accommodation?
§ Baroness BIRKYes, my Lords.