Skip to main content

Housing

Volume 466: debated on Thursday 23 June 1949

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

Empty Houses, London

35.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now publish a list showing the number of empty houses in each Metropolitan borough, disclosed by the recent survey undertaken at his recent request.

I will, with permission arrange for the figures to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the figures:

Numbers of empty houses in each Metropolitan Borough, as listed by the local authorities.

Battersea160
Bermondsey33
Bethnal Green (also an unstated number of semi-obsolete properties)4
Camberwell373
Chelsea41
Deptford39
Finsbury153
Fulham132
Greenwich260
Hackney249
HammersmithNil
Hampstead833
Holborn81
Islington665
Kensington235
Lambeth864
Lewisham296
Paddington518
Poplar563
St. Marylebone364
St. Pancras334
Shoreditch205
Southwark86
Stepney300
Stoke Newington40
Wandsworth206
Westminster341
Woolwich140
Total7,515

(1) The majority of the houses included in the lists are fit only for demolition.

(2) The Borough Councils are continuing to requisition and adapt those empty houses which are suitable and can be dealt with at reasonable cost.

(3) A number of houses, mainly in Westminster, Kensington and Paddington, are being prepared as half-way houses for over 400 families. This accommodation will be used for families from all parts of London.

(4) I am considering what further use can be made of these empty houses, but it is unlikely that much additional housing accommodation can be obtained.

Private Building Licences

55.

asked the Minister of Health if he will instruct local authorities not to include private building licences granted for agricultural purposes in the normal ratio of licences for private building.

The discretion given to local authorities to issue licences up to one-fifth of their allocation is the utmost concession that can be made at this time consistently with the housing policy of the Government that houses should be available at reasonable rents to those in the greatest need.

Is my right hon. Friend aware than in certain rural areas agricultural priorities absorb all the available licences, to the great vexation of nonagricultural people? Could there not be a fairer apportionment?

Priority has been given to agriculture and to mining. To give further houses would be at the expense of other people's needs in other parts of the country.

Is the Minister aware that it is not only private houses, but houses for agricultural workers that are held up, in the submission of schemes by councils, before they can get past the various authorities?

The fact that the housing schemes now in operation are the utmost that our physical resources admit is the complete answer to the hon. Gentleman's statement.

Sunday Observance Acts

33.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to introduce legislation to deal with the anomalies arising out of the Sunday Observance Acts.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 17th February last to my hon. Friend the Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker).

Does that mean the Government intend to continue condoning the practices under these Acts which are regarded by many people as being highly undesirable?

I do not think that is the way to put it. I was asked whether legislation was contemplated, and the reply to which I referred the hon. Member was to the effect that my right hon. Friend can hold out no prospect of early legislation.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that it is highly desirable to prevent ill-disposed busybodies utilising ancient laws for the purpose of interfering with individual liberties in the manner of the Lord's Day Observance Society.