96. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewingasked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether, in view of his agreement that local authorities can now build houses more economically designed, such as the recent winning design in "The Builder," he will permit greater flexibility in the allocation, so that authorities may build four such houses in place of three of the current type.
§ Mr. DaltonThe existing system of allocation is sufficiently flexible to allow for the inclusion of a larger number of smaller houses in the approved programmes of local authorities. As regards the building of smaller houses, I would refer the hon. Member to the exact terms in my reply to his question on 21st February.
97. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewingasked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he will take the necessary steps to enable him to allocate an overall sum to local authorities in place of individual licences, so as to encourage them to get the best value for money and enable them to build more houses for old and single people.
§ Mr. DaltonNo. I think the present system is better, but I am encouraging local authorities to increase still further the proportion of houses for old people and newly-married couples.