HC Deb 27 March 1979 vol 965 cc115-6W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of visits which he personally has made to stated areas in Great Britain which are known to have large immigrant populations for the specific purpose of dealing with racial matters connected with environmental and housing matters; what engagements he has already arranged for

ACQUISITION OF EXISTING DWELLINGS IN GREATER LONDON
By local authorities

(1)

 By housing associations funded by the Housing Corporation (loan approvals net of cancellations)

(2)

 Funded by local authorities

(3)
1973–74 … … … n/a 721 n/a
1974–75 … … … 15,315 4,701 n/a
1975–76 … … … 8,428 5,851 n/a
1976–77 … … … 6,102 4,501 n/a
1977–78 … … … 3,378 6,876 n/a
April to December 1978 … … … 2,100* 3,224 1,220*
* Provisional figure.

It is thought that most purchases by housing associations were for rehabilitation, but no breakdown is available to

the next six months for the same purpose; and whether, in both instances, these include the London borough of Newham.

Mr. Shore

I have no present plans to visit the London borough of Newham during the next six months. I visited the borough last July, on the occasion of the inauguration of the sewage treatment works at Beckton.

I visit many parts of the country in the course of my official business, and discuss a wide range of issues with local authorities, other organisations and individuals. Although none of my visits has been exclusively about matters concerning ethnic minorities, such matters figure in these discussions, where appropriate. It would, however, involve disproportionate effort and expense to list such occasions individually. As my hon. Friend is aware, this Government are committed to ensuring that resources are allocated according to need and that the needs of ethnic minorities, as well as the contribution they can make, are taken fully and properly into account.