asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the high cost of erecting a fire escape, as required by recent legislation, is deterring many people from letting rooms and flats in their houses, thereby aggravating the housing shortage; and whether he will seek to empower local authorities to make grants towards the cost.

This is one of a number of problems arising from the multiple occupation of houses which my right hon. Friend is studying at the moment but he does not think it is widespread or that grants are necessarily the answer.