§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the decision in the Queen's Bench on 5th April that a local authority has such power under the Housing Act, 1957, he will now encourage local authorities to acquire by compulsory purchase orders houses vacant for more than three months without special reason.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe decision confirms my view of the adequacy of local authorities' powers to acquire houses which have been vacant for an unreasonable time and which would make a useful addition to their housing stock. Quite apart from the actual use made of these powers, the knowledge that local authorities have them and are determined where necessary to rely on them, should have a healthy effect.
22Wand non-residential buildings, respectively, in England and Wales, Hampshire and Southampton, respectively, are owned privately; what percentages are publicly owned by Government, local authorities, nationalised industries, etc.; and what are the comparable percentages for buildings under construction during the 12-month period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MellishDetailed information about tenure of non-residential buildings is not available. For residential buildings the latest information giving comparable figures for these areas is provided by the 1961 Census returns, these show: