§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking or proposes to take to encourage the letting of surplus accommodation in houses at present under-occupied other than the exercise by local authorities of coercive powers.
§ Mr. ChannonCoercion is not the answer to this problem. I hope that local authorities as part of their overall responsibilities for housing will encourage the letting of surplus accommodation where this is short. Local authorities, and builders, can help by providing more small dwellings to give a choice to people who find their present accommodation too large.