§ Mr. Joplingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses there are in Westmorland which are available to local authorities for purchase under the terms of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement in his Budget Statement.
§ Mr. KaufmanIt is for the local authorities in the first instance to decide whether such houses as are available are suitable to meet urgent local housing needs. A circular will shortly be issued giving them guidance on this and other aspects of the initiatives we are taking to increase local authority housing programmes.