§ 97. Mr. H. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the concern expressed by the local authorities through their associations at the anticipated lapsing of Defence Regulation 68 (c) (A), at the end of the year, which in their view will involve the loss of a considerable amount of housing accommodation in areas of acute housing shortage, he will accord to members of the local authority associations an opportunity of conferring on the matter with him personally.
§ Mr. MarplesThe hon. Member has misunderstood the position. Consultations have been going on with the local authority associations on the question, not merely whether the Regulation should be allowed to lapse at the end of the year, but whether in view of its overlap with planning powers it should not be revoked right away. My right hon. Friend cannot agree with the view of some of the associations that revocation of the Regulation would involve the loss of a considerable amount of housing accommodation, since local planning authorities have ample powers to prevent that. But although the fears of the local authorities are not, in his view, well founded, my right hon. Friend has decided against immediate revocation. In these circumstances a conference does not seem to be necessary.