§ 97. Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Health what action he contemplates during the coming winter to extend facilities for the provision of housing in Birmingham in view of the number of families on the register of applications for 210W houses and flats and the bad conditions under which the majority of those families now live.
§ Mr. BevanThe distribution and timing of new contracts will be settled in consultation with each local authority along the lines indicated in the circular of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ 98. Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Health the number of back-to-back dwellings which still exist in Birmingham and if he has had under consideration plans to relieve in the near future the congestion which prevails and the bad state of family life of the occupants of those houses.
§ Mr. BevanThe City Council state that the number is 29,182. Priority must at present be given to the erection of new houses for families without a separate home of their own. Measures to improve existing housing conditions will receive consideration as soon as circumstances allow.