§ Mr. F. Taylorasked the Minister of of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the widespread wastage of housing accommodation caused by under-occupation of rented properties, particularly in 11W Manchester; what statistics are available to indicate the precise extent of this wastage; and what steps are being taken, or are proposed, to deal with the problem.
§ Sir K. JosephI have no evidence of widespread under-occupation at Manchester or elsewhere. What constitutes under-occupation is largely a matter of opinion, but some statistics which have a bearing on the question are available in "The Rent Act, 1957—Report of Inquiry" (Cmnd. 1246) and the Rowntree Trust's Housing Study "Housing Since the Rent Act".