§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps have been taken by his Department to prevent water shortage in Cornwall.
§ Mr. Denis HowellResponsibility for ensuring adequate water resources rests primarily on the river authority, who have 337W a duty under Section 14 of the Water Resources Act, 1963, to survey the water resources of their area, to prepare an estimate of the future demand, and to formulate proposals as to the action to be taken by them to conserve, redistribute or augment those resources, understand that the work of the Cornwall River Authority on its survey is well advanced and I see no present need for action by the Department.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what date he expects total housing supply in Cornwall to meet total housing demand.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe 1966 Census revealed a numerical surplus of dwellings over households, but in part this may have been attributable to second houses owned by persons normally resident elsewhere. The total housing demand is still not satisfied and there remains a considerable number of sub-standard dwellings to be replaced.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has now made of the effect of increased building costs on the housing programme in Cornwall.
Number of bedrooms Year 1 2 3 4 or more Total dwellings 1965 … … … 147 — — — 147 1966 … … … 249 24 12 — 285 1967 … … … 212 — 1 — 213 1968 … … … 255 — — — 255 1969 … … … 427 20 4 — 451 The correct balance of family and smaller dwellings for future needs is one factor which each housing authority must consider when determining its current building programme. I have made no projections for Huddersfield.