asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were under construction by local authorities in the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire at the end of 1965.

16,640.

Is my hon. Friend quite satisfied that this figure even remotely corresponds to the need in the East and West Ridings? Is he aware that on page 173 of the National Plan housing conditions in that area in terms of quality are described as the worst in the country? Is he not also aware that from 1951 to 1964 only 5·2 houses per 1,000 estimated population were built in the East and West Ridings compared with the national figure of 5·8? Will my hon. Friend look at the figure again?

I undertake to do that on behalf of my hon. Friend. He will know that it is my Minister's policy to ensure that in future programming priority is given to areas where the need is greatest.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied that local authorities have sufficient powers to ensure that houses which are left vacant and become a nuisance to adjoining properties and dangerous to children are made secure and weatherproof within a reasonable period of time; and if he will make a statement.

The powers in the Public Health Acts are generally sufficient to enable local authorities to deal with these houses. A few authorities have obtained, or are seeking, rather wider powers in local Acts. But my right hon. Friend is not aware that there is a problem which calls for general legislation.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in many towns such as Bolton this is an increasing problem and that they would like to have compulsory powers to enable them to force owners to seal up these houses before they become a danger to children and a dumping ground for all sorts of rubbish?

The Minister is open to persuasion on this, and if it can be shown to be a widespread problem he is prepared to consider proposals for strengthening the powers of local authorities.

Is my hon. Friend aware that if the Minister goes ahead with his proposal to rate empty properties it will help to end this nuisance, will relieve the rates, and will make property-owners who are holding out for a high price and keeping houses empty which are badly needed put them on the market?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he anticipates reaching a target of 400,000 completed houses in one year.

This year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that reply will be received with great satisfaction—[HON. MEMBERS: "It is nonsense."]—not only on these benches but in the constituencies?

As the right hon. Gentleman failed to do it last year, what reason have we to believe he will be successful this?

Last year all we achieved—I have to repeat it—was to exceed the Tory record by 9,000. This year we shall build 400,000. In the public sector we shall go widely ahead, and the private sector, provided it can, as I think it will, recover from the slump, should do very well indeed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the number of houses completed in January, 1966, was less than that completed in January, 1965? How does this square up with his claim to build more houses?

I would suggest to the hon. Gentleman that monthly comparisons can be extremely misleading.

Can my right hon. Friend say what he anticipates the effects of the housing subsidies will be, particularly with regard to the large conurbations such as Manchester and Liverpool, where, as a result, these areas have fixed higher targets for next year?

We have set all the conurbations much higher targets, and the housing subsidies create the financial possibility, and the only limitation is a limitation we ourselves imposed upon the authorities, because we have to ration them in terms of the public money available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what criteria he used in fixing fees for part-time employment of 15 guineas a day for professional members, 12 guineas a day for lay members and 18 guineas a day for chairmen of the rent assessment committees;

I will, with permission answer this Question and Written Question No. 6 together.

The fees were fixed in recognition of the importance of the work and in relation to the rate of payment for other quasi-judicial bodies. The hours of work are not prescribed for chairmen and members of rent assessment committees. The work will normally be programmed to occupy a full day, but the precise duration of a committee session will be determined largely by the complexity of the particular references heard on that day. The fees are not tax free.

Is the Minister aware of the fact that it is rather invidious—for busmen, for example, who cannot get a few shillings extra—to find that these people who very often have as many as four or five other sources of income can, for a relatively part-time appointment, receive such large sums? Did he consider referring this to the Prices and Incomes Board before making these appointments?

I would like my hon. Friend to realise that I was under great pressure—and rightly under great pressure—to ensure that we had qualified people for the rent assessment committees, and if we are to have qualified professional people doing our work we must pay the rate for the job to the qualified people.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the special housing needs in Crawley through the expansion of industry, he will announce plans for a large increase in the construction of houses through the agency of the New Towns Commission for Crawley.

My right hon. Friend hopes to agree a programme with all those concerned quite shortly. The problem is to increase the number of houses built by all agencies without prejudicing a decision on the future size of the town.

But is the hon. Gentleman aware that if industry is to function properly in Crawley another 5,000 houses at least will be required by 1970? Can he give no indication at this stage whether that target itself can be met?

The meeting with the agencies concerned took place yesterday. We are aware of the problem here, particularly with regard to the shortage of labour for industry. I think I can say to the hon. Gentleman that we shall do all we can to ensure that that problem is met.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what discussions he has held with the Greater London Council on the basis of paragraph 41 of the Housing Programme 1965–70, Command Paper No. 2838.

None so far. My right hon. Friend intends to start discussions with the local authority associations and the Greater London Council shortly.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to expedite these discussions in view of the seriousness of the matter?

We certainly will have discussions with them very soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern- ment how the Greater London Council's rejection of the advice given in paragraph 41 of the Housing Programme 1965–1970. Command Paper No. 2838, will affect that programme, in view of the fact that the Council controls nearly a quarter of a million council dwellings.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the G.L.C. has rejected his advice. In principle its social aid scheme is in line with the White Paper.

Will the hon. Gentleman at least make quite sure that what he thinks is the case is the case, because otherwise fewer houses are likely to be built, and would it not be true, therefore, that the necessity to cater for the real need would be diminished?

There is a fundamental difference of opinion between the two sides of the House. My right hon. Friend is determined that he will only have discussions with local authorities on the implementation of a rent rebate scheme. We are opposed to a differential rent scheme. The present scheme of the G.L.C. is a rent rebate scheme, and in that sense therefore we favour it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the large unsatisfied demand for housing loans from councils, he will seek to fix a maximum limit on the amount local authorities can lend borrowers on any one house.

When I have completed my review of local authority lending arrangements, and the part which they should play in the financing of house purchase, I expect to issue further advice to local authorities which will cover this point.

Would it not be fairer if such councils as Kensington, instead of lending £20,000 to one individual who could get the money elsewhere, lent £2,000 each to ten individuals who cannot get the money elsewhere?

Yes. It is fair to say that the Kensington Council asserts that it did not exclude anyone else because of lending the £20,000. As I shall make clear in the directive that we give, my own view is that that scale of loan is out of key with local government lending and should be left to the proper people to do it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the first decisions on rent reductions by a rent assessment committee will be reached and announced.

Rent assessment committees in Greater London, which is the first area to come into operation, are not likely to hear cases before the latter part of this month, but in the normal course their decision would be announced at the hearing, which can be attended by the Press.

Will the Minister note, I hope with pleasure, that some London landlords are now accepting rent reductions of up to £3 12s. per week without taking cases to the rent assessment committees, which suggests that they do not regard those reductions as unreasonable?

I am delighted to hear that news, particularly because the time taken by our rent officers is longer than we anticipated, and it is very important that people should read the cases that have now been published and draw their own conclusions about the kinds of agreements that can be reached between landlords and tenants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he is aware of the deteriorating condition of flats in the Sheffield area, particularly Martin Street, due to cladesporium labatum; and what advice he is giving to local authorities to deal with such deterioration in new flats;

My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties in the Martin Street flats and elsewhere.

Difficulties of this kind may appear in either old or modern buildings, and five local authorities have brought cases to my right hon. Friend's notice recently. There is a great body of knowledge to enable authorities to avoid these difficulties, or cure them if they arise, and I do not think further general advice would be of assistance, but in complex cases the Building Research Station and the Department will be very glad to help.

I acknowledge that reply, but does the Minister blame this on the quality of building construction or the lack of care by tenants in looking after the flats and houses they possess? Is he aware that this is a serious problem in many buildings throughout the country?

I am not putting the blame upon anybody in regard to these flats. I understand that cladesporium labatum is mildew, and that the trouble with these flats is due to the heating, or lack of heating, in some of them. If the hon. Member will refer this matter to the Building Research Station it will be glad to look into it.