HC Deb 20 January 1971 vol 809 c284W
50. Mr. Thorpe

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a circular to housing authorities requesting them to co-operate with bona fide self-help housing groups to allow them to use empty council-owned short-life property for housing purposes along the lines agreed between the London Borough of Lewisham and the Lewisham Family Squatting Association, details of which have been sent to him.

Mr. Channon

In London, where the problem is particularly important, all housing authorities were urged to make more interim use of their empty housing awaiting demolition, in a circular letter dated 4th July, 1969, of which I am sending the right hon. Member a copy. I hope that any local authority with a housing problem will make arrangements to achieve the maximum utilisation of empty houses whilst protecting the position of those on the waiting list.