asked the Minister of Health how many licences he has authorised the Blackpool Corporation to grant to private builders to build houses since 1st January, 1950; and how many further licences he expects to authorise them to grant during this calendar year.

The council have been informed that they may issue such licences up to a maximum of one in 10 of the allocations made to them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when he intends to restore the figure to the maximum of one in four which existed before the cuts, which were made last October, as these cuts are now being restored?

It was not one in four, but one in five. I hope to make a statement to the House very shortly about new systems of allocation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he examines the housing columns in the local Press at Blackpool, Brixton or anywhere else, he will find that there has been no shortage of houses for sale with vacant possession since 1945?