Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister if the Director-General of Housing has been given all the facilities for which he has asked in the shape of a specially qualified staff and otherwise which he has recommended to enable him to carry on expeditiously the work entrusted to him; and, if not, whether the Government will consider the desirability of establishing temporarily an independent Department to deal with housing, so that the delay which has taken place in the past in attempting to deal with this problem through the existing staff machinery of the Local Government Board may be overcome and tangible steps taken to redeem the pledges given by the Government in the matter?
§ Major ASTORMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As the hon. and gallant Member will have seen from to-day's Press, a considerable advance has been made towards the completion of the organisation of the Housing Department. It is the intention of the Government that all the necessary steps will be taken, whether by the provision of70W specially qualified staff or otherwise, to give effect to the pledges that it has given with regard to housing.