HC Deb 27 July 1950 vol 478 cc113-4W
95 and 117. Mr. Profumo

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will increase the ratio of licences for private building to one in five during this year for the Rural District of Southam, the special circumstances of which have already been communicated to him;

(2) whether he will increase the ratio of licences for private building to one in five during this year for the Rural District of Stratford-on-Avon, the special circumstances of which have already been communicated to him.

Mr. Bevan

The information supplied by the hon. Member does not agree in some respects with that contained in the Department's records. When these have been reconciled, I will give my decision.

106. Mr. Remnant

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider issuing a circular advising local authorities to treat as special cases for a private building licence tubercular individuals who are unable to obtain sanatorium beds and desire to build at their own expense.

Mr. Bevan

Local authorities have been requested to satisfy themselves that the issue of a licence will serve a housing need comparable to that served by a house erected by them for letting and I have no doubt that in both cases special consideration is given to tubercular patients.

110. Mrs. Braddock

asked the Minister of Health whether his regulations permit local authorities to grant licences to builders, to build houses for sale, on the receipt of their allocation from his Department; and what method his Department have of checking the number of such licences granted by local authorities.

Mr. Bevan

Yes. Subject to the general instruction in the circular 108/48 of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy that such houses must go and be seen to go to persons in need of homes. The numbers of licences issued are supplied by the local authorities and are shown in Appendix B to the Housing Return.

120. Mr. Edelman

asked the Minister of Health how many licences for private house building have been issued in Coventry this year; and what percentage this represents of the total amount of house building authorised for the year.

Mr. Bevan

I would refer my hon. Friend to Appendix B of the published Housing Return.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider a mutual arrangement with Northern Ireland whereby building licences can be transferred to authorities in Great Britain.

Mr. Bevan

I regret that such a transfer is not practicable.