§ 9. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Minister of Health what direction or request he has issued to local authorities with the object of discouraging or prohibiting the issue of licences for building repair work.
§ Mr. BevanNo instructions have been issued to local authorities prohibiting the granting of building licences for repair work, but local authorities were reminded in a recent Circular of the need to relate the volume of work for which licences are granted to the requirements of their own housing programmes. Subject to this, local authorities have been advised to give preference to licences for repairs to houses required by statutory notices and to other repairs or essential alterations which are designed to improve the standard of accommodation. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Circular in question.