§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all public service accommodation is returned to the general housing pool, and that no public service employee has to live in such accommodation as a precondition of employment in the future.
§ Mr. FreesonWhere service housing is owned by Government Departments no legislation would be necessary to dispose of it to local housing authorities. However, although immediate large-scale transfer could raise serious practical problems, I am anxious to see that unwanted public service accommodation is returned to the general housing pool.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to assist those housing authorities with public service housing within their area of responsibility, to build additional accommodation in order to facilitate the rehousing of any public service employee on retirement due to age or incapacity or on leaving the public service, especially where the employee is required to live in special accommodation as a condition of service.
§ Mr. FreesonLocal authorities do not need special additional help to provide housing for employees who leave public service. Such provision can be made under their general housing powers and the Government already gives all the financial help needed for this purpose.