§ LORD HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the note by the Department of the Environment published as Appendix II to the First Report of the joint Working Party on Homelessness in London; and whether they consider that exhortations to the London housing authorities together with discussions concerning new financial arrangements and the suggested employment of tenancy relations officers, constitute a response in any way adequate to the housing needs of Greater London.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)The actions referred to in the noble Lord's Question are far from constituting the whole of the Government's activity in relation to the housing needs of Greater London. Housing in London is a subject which occupies probably more of the time and attention of my right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Construction and my honourable friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, than any other within their field of responsibility but no response to these problems can be considered adequate until they have been finally solved. The noble Lord is no doubt aware that the Minister recently called a conference of all London housing authorities to discuss ways and means of overcoming the problems involved in increasing the housing stock in London. The response by the local authorities at the conference was most encouraging and in order to ensure that the impetus is not lost, the Minister is setting up an Action Group, under the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, comprised of elected members and officers throughout London, to advise him on any continuing action necessary to maintain the housing drive.
Since the noble Lord's Question was put on the Order Paper he has at my request made his own suggestions as to what more should be done. My right honourable friend and I are grateful for these.