§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the rapid growth, both past and projected, in the population of the Borough of Bedford as outlined in the Northampton, Bedford and North Buckinghamshire Study, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1965, he will give consideration to backdating the new housing subsidy, as has been done in certain other local authority areas, where the rate of growth has been smaller.
§ Mr. CrossmanThis concession was for authorities who had been given special priority in the housing programme by reason of an exceptional slum clearance need, an exceptional shortage of housing or both. It was not related to population growth as such, except in so far as this arose from the provision of overspill housing.