HC Deb 03 March 1978 vol 945 cc440-1W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to local authorities, following the findings of the National Consumer Council in its publication "Access Allocation and Transfers in Council Housing" that single people and the old and disabled are disadvantaged in present policies to provide more council housing for single people and childless couples.

Mr. Freeson

The need to provide more housing for small households was drawn to the attention of local housing and planning authorities in Circular 24/75; that circular urged that fuller use could be made of the existing housing stock and that a larger proportion of the output in both public and private sectors should be devoted to dwellings for small households.

I shall consider the need for further advice in the light of the comments received in response to the Department's consultation paler on access and allocation, including those from the National Consumer Council, and the work of the Housing Services Advisory Group which is also considering access, allocation and transfers.