asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has now made of the number of tenants to be evicted in London next October.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he will inquire into the extent to which landlords under the Rent Act, 1957, are giving notice to quit to tenants in decontrolled houses without giving the option of a new agreement involving increased rents, with a view to taking action if necessary and in time to obviate undue hardship being caused to many people in October because of the shortage of alternative accommodation;

From any statistical inquiry made now it would not be possible to deduce the number of tenants unable to make satisfactory arrangements by next October.

Is not it true that the number of evictions, estimated by the Financial Times at 6,000 tenants and their families, is much higher than the right hon. Gentleman expected, according to the report of the meeting he attended on 12th March? What is the Minister doing about it? Why is he gambling with the happiness of so many thousands of people and presenting at least the appearance, if not the reality, of being callous and inhumane about the whole thing?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman realises that the number of notices to quit that may be outstanding at this present moment is no indication and no measure of the number of evictions that might take place after October.

Will not the Minister take effective action now to reduce the misery and despair that this Rent Act is causing? Does he really think that his half-baked warnings will in any way deflect the greedy and unscrupulous landlords from grinding every possible material benefit from an Act which he champions and which his colleagues on the Government benches so meekly accept?

Without accepting anything that the hon. Gentleman has said, I think that I was right to give that advice the other day, and I believe that it has improved the position.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any truth in the statement that, after October, some 30,000 people are likely to be homeless in the London area—a statement recently made by the Leader of the London County Council, Mr. Hayward?

So far as I am aware, there is no foundation for that statement.

But does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, to put it at the lowest, there is a risk of a considerable number of evictions in and after October, and nowhere for these people to go? Ought he not to take some steps to provide emergency or other accommodation, just in case this happens?

The Questions invited me to make a statistical inquiry at the present moment, and I do not think that that would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take powers to arrange for the housing of persons evicted under the Rent Act, 1957.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. George Craddock) on 18th March.

Does that Answer mean that the Minister has power to act in this respect, or that he has no power? If he has no power, and he is waiting to see how the situation develops before he brings forward new legislation, will he bear in mind that the long Recess will intervene, and that the operative date will take place during the Recess, so that the sooner he brings in that legislation the better it will be?

Local authorities have powers.

Is not the Minister aware that the local authority has power to provide Part III accommodation on a temporary basis only if the eviction arises from any unforeseen circumstances? In view of the fact that these are not unforeseen circumstances, what power does the right hon. Gentleman intend to give to local authorities to help them to deal with the very unpleasant situation which he himself has created?

The hon. Lady is referring to the powers of welfare authorities, where I have been speaking of the power of housing authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to deal with the illegal practice of charging premiums for decontrolled tenancies contrary to the provisions of the Rent Act, 1957.

Local authorities have power to prosecute for this offence. Anyone who considers that he has been required to make an unlawful payment should inform his local council.

Surely the Minister is aware that a very large number of people are being charged wholly exorbitant sums for a few pieces of furniture and fittings and that these charges are in fact a concealed premium and therefore illegal? Is not he aware that it is very difficult for tenants to deal with this matter? Will he take steps to give adequate publicity to this matter in order to deter this practice and to ensure that local authorities do something to stop it?

I should be very glad if this Question and Answer together give further publicity, but I have no power to prosecute. Local authorities have power to prosecute. What the 1957 Rent Act did was to apply the legislation which was enacted in 1949 by the Labour Government.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the practical difficulty is that the tenant is afraid to take action vis-à-vis decontrolled premises? Ought not the Minister to take steps to see that the local authorities, or the police, or whoever is the appropriate authority, take effective action to stop this widespread practice?

I must make it perfectly clear that as Minister I have no power to prosecute. The local authorities and the police have power to prosecute.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many letters he has received from tenants complaining about the Rent Act; and what has been the nature of his replies.

I have had about 4,000 letters about the Rent Act since it received Royal Assent. For the reasons I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 11th February, these letters are not classified in a form which would show how many have been complaints. An appropriate reply is sent in every case.

Is the Minister aware that a large number of desperate people have been made very angry by the letter which they have received from his Department, one sentence of which reads:

"Moving is always inconvenient and troublesome yet people can and do manage to move when they want to."

I am sure that that is not the whole of the letter, but that sentence by itself seems to me absolutely true.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will grant to local authorities the power to requisition houses occupied by tenants who will he evicted next October under the Rent Act, 1957.

asked the Minister for Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what additional powers he proposes to give to local authorities to enable them to assist families of decontrolled dwellings who are under notice to quit their premises in October next.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will restore requisitioning powers to local authorities.

Local authorities already have powers to arrange for the housing of persons in need, and I do not think additional powers will be necessary.

Is the Minister aware that these powers do not and will not enable either the London County Council or the Metropolitan borough councils, either in their capacity as welfare authorities or in their capacity as housing authorities, to deal with the very substantial number of people who are likely to be evicted next October? Is it not, therefore, criminal for him not only to do nothing himself but to make it impossible for local authorities to do anything?

That is a hypothetical question. Local authorities have power to acquire houses by agreement—[HON. MEMBERS: "Where?"]—and with the Minister's consent they can acquire houses compulsorily. I think that it is far better to get rid of requisitioning than to extend it.

Is the Minister aware that many local authorities in whose areas this problem exists have the power to provide housing accommodation in urgent cases but find it physically impossible to do so in view of the weight of the housing list? In view of the evictions likely under the Rent Act, will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving them extraordinary powers in order to deal with the emergency later in the year?

I will not respond to any of these requests that local authorities should be allowed to requisition houses.

Has the Minister's attention been called to a statement by the Leader of the London County Council that in London, which presents a specially difficult problem, it will be absolutely impossible for the L.C.C. to deal with the results of the Rent Act in October, 1958? Surely he cannot brush aside a responsible statement of that kind. Why will not he, at least in London, give consideration to the possibility of requisitioning, because there is no other way of dealing with the problem?

The hon. Lady speaks of a responsible statement. I said in response to an earlier supplementary question that I know of no foundation for the figure of 30,000 given by the Leader of the London County Council.

As the Minister has effectively stopped new building for general need and now refuses to grant powers of requisition, will he not, at least, give local authorities power compulsorily to purchase buildings?

I said in reply to an earlier Question that any proposal for a compulsory purchase order would he considered on its merits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the London County Council and the Metropolitan boroughs are making arrangements for dealing with people evicted from houses decontrolled under the Rent Act in October next; and what steps he is taking to assist them in meeting the cost of these plans.

I have seen reports in the newspapers, but no proposals have so far been submitted to me by these authorities.

Is the Minister aware that he is about the only person in London who thinks that there is no need for special powers to be given to deal with this matter, and that, while it is true that there are powers for the compulsory purchase of houses, the fact is that they will take much too long and that October will be well over before they can be operated? Does he realise that the boroughs and the county council are very concerned, already having considerable lists of people who have been given notice of eviction, such as the three or four I hold in my hand now from constituents of mine who have been refused anything but an eviction order? In the circumstances, does the Minister appreciate that the Government must give some special powers for quick acquisition of properties in which to put people, and financial help to assist authorities with the burden which will be created?

The hon. Gentleman is expressing his own opinion. His original Question referred to the cost of plans which have not yet been submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that, on the termination of a notice to quit given to a person occupying a dwellinghouse of a rateable value of not more than £40 in London or £30 elsewhere in England and Wales, possession of which has been first obtained by the tenant since 6th June, 1957, or, on the death of a statutory tenant of such a dwellinghouse, by virtue of Section 6 of the Rent Act, 1920, the landlord is entitled to break open the door of the house with a crowbar or other forcible appliance when nobody is in the house and resume possession without obtaining an order of a court; and what Steps he will take to deal with this by amending the law relating to possession.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 18th March, 1958.

Is not the Minister aware that that was an entirely evasive Answer? If he is not satisfied about my point, will he refer to Woodfall on "Landlord and Tenant", where he will see that even a crowbar can be used, as long as tenants are not physically in the house, in order to evict them? Is not it a fact that for very many years landlords have exercised the right of taking possession without going to the county court, or any other court, for an order? In these circumstances, does the Minister realise that he is putting hundreds of thousands of tenants in peril of landlords walking in without such an order?

The hon. Member is more learned in the law than I am—

Woodfall certainly is.

but I must say that it seems highly improbable, as I said on 18th March, that any landlord would use this method in the case of an unfurnished, as distinct from a furnished, tenancy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why his Department gave the Brighton Council to understand two months ago that it was not prepared to support it if it decided to exercise its powers, which he must approve, to purchase property compulsorily, where it was deemed the landlord was acting unfairly; and whether this remains his policy.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. In a letter sent to Brighton Corporation on 30th December, 1957, of which I am sending him a copy, it was informed that if an order for compulsory purchase of house property within its area were submitted for my confirmation, it would be considered on its merits.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some other misapprehension? Is he also aware that, as I understand the position, representatives of the council came up to the Ministry of Housing, and certainly went away with the impression that they would not be encouraged to exercise these powers if they wanted to?

I have a copy of the letter here, dated 30th December, written to the town clerk, and it does not seem to me to be capable of any misinterpretation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to see that adequate compensation is given to those whose property is scheduled for future compulsory purchase.

I am making a thorough study of this problem together with others relating to compulsory purchase.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether this will be covered by the Bill presented by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, South (Captain Corfield)? Is he aware that I have already taken up the matter with the Prime Minister and that there is a need for early action on it, because unnecessary hardship is being caused to a very well deserving section of the community?

I assure my hon. Friend that my original Answer was given in all sincerity, and I trust that he will take it in that spirit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the widespread hardship which will be caused by the further increase in controlled rents on and after 6th April; and if he will postpone this increase until he has inquired from local authorities as to their estimate of its effect.

I do not accept that widespread hardship will be caused by the further rent increases permitted; and I see no justification for the amending legislation suggested.

Does the Minister appreciate that next week, unless he relents, the rent will be raised for the second time for hundreds of thousands of homes without baths, bathrooms, hot water, inside toilets or even damp courses, and that the houses are so damp that the children are seldom well? Does not he think that this is a monstrous injustice?

No, Sir. If the houses lack so many amenities, I do not think their gross value will be very high, and, as the House knows, there is provision for the National Assistance Board to meet any increased rents where the tenants genuinely cannot afford an increase.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of local authorities in County Durham that have, since the receipt of Circular 54/57, decided to abandon house building for the present; how many authorities have indicated they will concentrate on slum clearance; and what is the number who are slowing down their house building programme.

Of the 40 local authorities in County Durham, 35 have been in touch with me on the matters raised in Circular 54/57. Of these, I understand that four do not intend to place any houses in contract for the time being. The remainder intend that the houses they are placing in contract shall be used primarily for slum clearance and the housing of old people.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him if he realises that the building trade workers are becoming alarmed at the prospect of serious unemployment? Does not he think that it is time he looked over his shoulder and saw the damage which his legislation is doing, because the building trade workers will not forget that it is creating unemployment?

This is not concerned with legislation. It is the action which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor felt it essential to take last September to counter inflation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the representations made to his Department by the Borough Council of Rowley Regis, he will reconsider his decision to reduce the number of houses to be erected by the council in 1958 from 284 to 96.

My right hon. Friend has not given any decision which would have the effect of reducing the number of houses to be completed by the council in 1958. The figure of 96 refers to dwellings for which he is at present prepared to give tender approval in 1958, and this cannot affect completions this year. In fact, the council should complete over 200 dwellings in 1958, which is about as many as it completed last year.

Is not is a fact that, as a result of the Minister's decision, the Rowley Council will be unable to carry out its five-year programme? Will the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that, although the council has built more than 2,000 houses since 1946, it is still faced with a waiting list of 1,900 applicants, together with a slum clearance programme covering more than 770 slum dwellings? How can he expect the council to face up to its housing responsibilities if he interferes with its programme as he has done in this case?

We appreciate the size of the problem in the right hon. and learned Gentleman's constituency, but the position was that the council wanted to go out to tender for 284 houses, which was 60 more than it started last year and 70 more than it completed. If, later in the year, the right hon. and learned Gentleman would like my right hon. Friend to review the matter again, he would be very glad to do so.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, in those circumstances, the Minister would be willing to to see a deputation from the borough council later on?

Not at this stage, but later in the year, yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to deal with landlords who are evicting long-established tenants or who are charging exorbitant rents, in view of Her Majesty's Government's new policy in this regard.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the debate on 3rd March.

Is the Minister aware that the warning he gave to wicked landlords and his indication that he might do something about it raised hopes in the hearts of thousands of families who are grievously anxious at the moment? Would not it have been much kinder not to make a speech of that kind if he does not propose to do anything about it, rather than raise the hopes of people suffering the threat of eviction next October?

I do not agree. I am quite sure that the effect of my statement was salutary.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's somewhat prolonged contemplation of the landlords of England led him to formulate any proposals for dealing with this kind of case, and if so, will he tell us what they are?

I said on 3rd March that, having given certain advice, the natural thing was to wait and see whether the advice was taken.

Does the Minister consider that my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner) was right a few minutes ago when he said that in the case of a decontrolled house, a landlord, after giving a proper notice to quit, could himself enter the house and dispossess the occupier without an order of any court; and, if that is so, would not it be a suitable measure for alleviating anxiety if he were to introduce—at any rate to this extent—amending legislation, to make it necessary for landlords to obtain an order from a court before they can forcibly dispossess anybody?

The hon. Member is asking a supplementary question to a Question which has been long since passed.

On a point of order. In view of the Minister's refusal to answer a perfectly relevant supplementary question, I should like to give notice that at an early date I shall take an opportunity to raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to inform tenants of their rights to claim repayments of increased rents charged on back-dated leases.

The statement I made in reply to the hon. Member has already received considerable publicity. Any tenant who considers that this statement applies to a lease which he has signed should obtain legal advice about the action he can take for recovery of overpayments.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what advice he has issued to local authorities, in connection with tenders invited by them, that specifications should not restrict tenderers to products manufactured in foreign countries where similar competitive products are manufactured in this country.

These are matters which my right hon. Friend believes should be left to the discretion of the local authorities concerned. He has issued no advice.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Borough of Barking recently invited tenders and issued specifications calling for 69 baths "of Hungarian manufacture," thus depriving British bath manufacturers and workers, who are already on short time, of an opportunity of competing?

That case was brought to my right hon. Friend's attention. The position is that the importation of these baths was approved by the Board of Trade. It would run completely counter to the Government's general attitude to restrict local authorities in matters of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many deputations from local housing authorities have been received at his Department complaining of their inadequate housing allocations; and what proportion of these deputations has been met by the Minister himself or his Parliamentary Secretary.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that 36 deputations have been received. In accordance with the procedure set out in Circular No. 54/57, 20 were seen by regional officers and 15 by officers in London.

Is not it the custom for deputations accompanied or led by a Member of the House to be received either by the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary? In these matters, is not it rather degrading for the Minister and his Parliamentary Secretary to shelter, in a cowardly fashion, behind the bland and barren politeness of their civil servants?

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not accuse me of any discourtesy; that is the last thing I would wish to show to him or to any hon. Member. I have the letter in front of me from the clerk of the urban district council which I think he has in mind, which spoke of a deputation to be received by officials. I received no request that it should be received either by me or by my Parliamentary Secretary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the 847,112 dwellings notified to him by local authorities as unfit in Command Paper No. 9593 are to be demolished and the occupants rehoused.

During 1957, more than 44,000 unfit houses were demolished or closed and nearly 150,000 people rehoused. This is very good progress, and, at this rate, many local authorities will have got rid of all slum property in their areas by 1960. In other cases, particularly big cities, it has always been recognised that the process would take much longer.

Is the Minister aware that, on the basis of the figures he has now given to the House, it will take twenty-nine years to clear all the 847,000 dwellings notified to him as unfit by local authorities? In view of the very long time involved, during which other slums will accumulate, is there nothing he can do to speed up the approvals by his Department of clearances throughout the whole area where slum property exists?

I shall never be satisfied about the clearance of slums, but the hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that the situation varies vastly from one area to another. The fact is that, during the last two years, we have rehoused over a quarter of a million people from slum houses. I do not for one moment dispute that, in the big cities, it will take a long time. Nevertheless, the progress is very good.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why the number of new dwellings completed by local authorities is continuously falling.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether he is aware that in 1951 a local council-built house averaged 900 square feet with a ceiling height of eight feet as against the present-day standard of 800 square feet and seven feet six inches, respectively, that in 1951 63 per cent. of all council-built houses had three or more bedrooms as against 47 per cent. at the end of 1957, and yet only 137,584 of these smaller houses were built by local authorities in 1957 as against 141,587 of the larger type of house which were built in 1951; what was the reason for the reduction; and what action he proposes to take to restore council-house building to its 1951 level;

I would refer the hon. Members to the speech I made during the Debate on the Address on 11th November, when I drew attention to the striking improvement in the housing situation since 1951, and explained why it is now necessary, as an anti-inflationary measure, to slow down the housing programme.

Is the Minister aware that there is very little improvement in the areas where the housing problem is most acute? In view of the heavy housing lists which exist in almost every city and town in the country, and the slowing down of the housing programme, which will accentuate the housing problem, will he reconsider the matter with a view to encouraging local authorities in those areas to expand rather than contract their housing programmes?

The first task is to combat inflation. If that can be done, nobody will be happier than I to see housing go full speed ahead; but the sort of areas to which the hon. Gentleman has referred are exactly those areas where the principal difficulty is shortage of sites.

Will the Minister look at my two Questions and examine the figures there, which are taken from his official housing returns? Do not those figures show that his Ministry and he are now responsible for building fewer houses, smaller houses, and houses which are costing more, at a time when he is evicting people from rent-controlled houses and there is an urgent need for houses of the very type to which I have referred? Should not he now institute a programme of increased house building and get things back at least to the 1948 or 1951 level? Does the right hon. Gentleman deny the figures in his own reports?

I had noted what was the source of the hon. Gentleman's figures. I am thankful to say that, since we have had a Conservative Government, we have built 50 per cent. more houses than the Labour Government did.

But is not the Minister aware that, as a result of his policy, the number of council houses being built is falling?

Yes, that is perfectly true. I said that the first duty is to combat inflation. The hon. and learned Gentleman may not have noticed that, even so, more than 300,000 houses were built last year, and the figures under the Labour Government were strangely different.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the estimated number of houses of £100 or less rateable value now empty in the County of London.

I have no estimate of this, and see no value in attempting to make one.

Does the Minister appreciate that his very vague reply seems very unsatisfactory to many of us, and is he satisfied that his information is sufficient for him to deal with any difficulty which might arise in October?

What the hon. Gentleman asks me is the number of houses empty now. It is six months until October.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the estimated amount of housing accommodation now under-occupied in the County of London, and in England and Wales, respectively.

There is no comprehensive information later than the 1951 Census. Then there were 2½ million households in England and Wales with more than two rooms per person, and 127,000 of these households were in the County of London.

Is the Minister aware that his calculation based upon pre-war figures is now out of date? Does he appreciate that the people generally are not satisfied today with the kind of housing accommodation that they had to endure before the war?

My figures were based on 1951.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is satisfied that his powers under Section 79 of the Housing Act, 1957, to allow more than the permitted number of persons to use a dwelling-house for sleeping, can be operated with speed sufficient to meet any forseeable emergency; and if he will make a statement.

I do not consider that any such action will be necessary.

If the Minister requires to operate this Section during the Long Recess, what will be his position, remembering that he has to get the consent of Parliament to operate it?

That is a hypothetical question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that hardship is caused to people who are obliged to leave accommodation in one district and to take temporary or unsuitable accommodation in another district, and who thereby lose residential qualification for housing by one local authority before acquiring such qualification with another local authority; and whether he will issue a circular to local housing authorities recommending them that no one should be removed from a housing list by reason only of his removal to another district, until he has there acquired residential qualification.

Local authorities have already been given very full guidance on the question of residential qualifications in two Reports of the Central Housing Advisory Committee. I am sending copies of these to my hon. Friend.

Is the Minister aware that, in spite of his circulars, many local authorities are refusing to accept on their waiting lists applications from people without long residential qualifications? Does he realise that this is part of the widespread problem with which local authorities are faced? Until he allows local authorities to build more houses, they will be forced to adopt this attitude to new arrivals.

This is not a matter of building houses, but of the management of the waiting lists. It does not depend simply on the circulars that I have sent. The Reports of that admirable body, the Central Housing Advisory Committee, give effective advice for any situation that might arise.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received from the Easington Rural District Council complaining about its allocation in the construction of houses in its area in the current and following year; and what proposals he has to make to ease the housing difficulty in the Easington Parliamentary division.

My right hon. Friend received representations from the Easing-ton Rural District Council that the programme originally suggested to it for this year was too small. After considering these representations my right hon. Friend agreed that its programme should be increased. As a result, it should complete, both this year and next year, about the same number of houses as its average rate of completions over the last three years.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I introduced the deputation from the Easington Rural District Council, that his right hon. Friend sent an official to meet the deputation and that we could make no impression whatever on the official's mind? Is he also aware that the allocation has not been increased and that there appears to be a misunderstanding? In those circumstances, would not it be wise if the Parliamentary Secretary's right hon. Friend gave this matter his personal attention instead of passing it on to an official to deal with?

No; I do not think the right hon. Gentleman is quite right. The original figure for which approval was given was for 100 houses to go out to tender this year. The right hon. Gentleman led a deputation from Easington to the Ministry. Following that deputation, the figure was increased to 150, which is not very different from the figure for the last three years.

I have been forced to table this Question owing to the absence of the Minister to receive the deputation. I am addressing the right hon. Gentleman, not his Parliamentary Secretary. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Why not? The Question is addressed to the right hon. Gentleman and I want him to give an answer. I am asking a fair question. Will he now give the matter his full attention?

I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend has already given this matter his personal attention. I want to reassure the right hon. Gentleman on what I have already said. Tender approval for 150 houses has been given, which is not substantially different from the figures for the last three years. In fact, Easington has been generously treated.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the equation of the overall supply and demand for homes forecast by him has now been attained; and if he will give the statistical basis upon which his answer is computed.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Poole (Captain Pilkington) on 19th November.

Does not the Minister agree that—to use the words of the Question—

"the equation of the overall supply and demand for homes"

More than four years ago the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) said that we were not very far from the amount of total accommodation that the nation would require.

Will not the Minister deal with this matter on a practical basis in view of the figures that he has given?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will advise local authorities to request tenants by public notice to inform the local authority if they have received notice to quit on 6th October or thereafter; and request local authorities to keep a register containing such information, so that in case of evictions after that date such tenants may receive advice or assistance.

No, Sir.

In view of the evictions foreshadowed by the service of the notices to quit, would not it be a wise plan to make provision in case difficulty does arise in October?

I do not think that the suggestion made by the hon. Gentleman is a very good one.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) to what extent East Anglia is now regarded as an evacuation area;

As has previously been stated, the provisional scheme which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have had under discussion with the local authority associations would involve planning for the evacuation of the persons within the classes listed in paragraph 114 of the 1956 Defence White Paper, totalling some 12 million. The scheme is still under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to give any details.

Will the Minister indicate whether it was intended to evacuate people into East Anglia, in which county the missile bases are now to be established, and does he still propose to send people there?

I must repeat again that this scheme is still under consideration, and I cannot give any details.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now given further consideration to the appointment of a public health inspector as a member of the Clean Air Council.

The Council is still in the first year of its existence and my right hon. Friend would prefer not to make any further appointment at present. He will bear the suggestion in mind.

Is not the Minister aware that the Scottish Council has made such an appointment? Further, is he aware that public health inspectors have responsible duties under the Clean Air Act? Does not he think that it is ridiculous that they should not have some representation on the Clean Air Council?

We do not always follow Scottish precedents in England and Wales. We have already two medical officers of health on the Council and they supervise the activities of the public health inspectors.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the difficulties existing in certain areas in regard to caravan sites; and what administrative action he proposes to take.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Godman Irvine) on 18th March.

That is quite useless as an Answer. Is my hon. Friend aware that the law dealing with refugee caravans is being flouted to such an extent that the whole countryside will be littered with illegal caravan sites unless he takes some action? He has already had one letter from me pointing this out. What does he propose to do about the situation?

I am very well aware of my hon. Friend's views, but there are many diverse views towards this problem in the House. My right hon. Friend is perfectly willing to consult any local authority on its own particular problems.

Does not the hon. Member realise that if the Minister does not provide houses we must have caravans?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will call a conference of the counties of Surrey, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire to reach an agreed policy in regard to caravan sites.

My right hon. Friend's Department is always ready to confer with any planning authority on this subject, and has in fact conferred with some of those named, but both their circumstances and their local Act powers vary and I do not think a joint conference would be useful.

Is my hon. Friend aware that three of these local authorities are those which are banning caravan sites entirely so that all the refugee caravanners are moving into the neighbouring authorities' areas? Is not it fair and proper that they should reach an agreed decision between them? Will not my hon. Friend reconsider this matter?

One of the difficulties here is that all the counties concerned have different powers which they operate, and it is quite useless to consider a conference of various local authorities in those circumstances. We are perfectly willing to confer with any particular county.

Does not the hon. Member realise that where contiguous counties have different policies it is highly desirable that an effort should be made to get a joint policy so that these wretched people are not pushed out of one county which does not want them into another?

Will my hon. Friend take steps to encourage local authorities to establish municipal sites for caravans, such, for example, as that which the Sunbury Urban District Council has opened with very great success?

My right hon. Friend will certainly bear that suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the numerous cases of hardship to owner-occupiers arising under the operation of the provisions of the Private Street Works Act, 1892; and what action he proposes to take to alleviate this.

Local authorities already have powers under the Act which enable them to meet cases of individual hardship and I believe that these powers are not infrequently used.

Is my hon. Friend aware that since I put down a Question on this subject a month ago, as purely a constituency matter in the first instance, I have received representations from all parts of the country about the operation of these Acts in regard to road charges? Is he aware that these have fallen very hard on people with small incomes who in some cases are having to sell their houses to meet the charges? Will he look at the whole problem in the light of present-day circumstances?

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied on present evidence that there is any need for a general amendment of the law, but it ought to be clearly understood that local authorities have power to contribute to the cost of works if they think fit and also to allow the charges to be spread over a period of up to thirty years. Those powers are frequently used.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received about the offensive discharge from the Esso refinery at Fawley; what investigations have been made by his officers; and what action is being taken to mitigate the nuisance to residents over a wide surrounding area.

No representations have been received about these works for nearly two years. Regular visits are paid by the district alkali inspector to ensure that emissions of gases and smells are reduced to the minimum.

But is the Minister aware that I have in my possession between 30 and 40 letters from responsible residents in the area complaining of the fumes discharged from the refinery? Is he himself really satisfied that the nuisance has been stopped?

I did not know that the hon. Gentleman had these complaints in his pocket. I am told that this refinery is one of the least troublesome in the country.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the policy of his Department with regard to the exercise of his control over the siting and establishment of new garages.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind service garages. Any proposal for such a garage falls to be considered in the first instance by the local planning authority, which has regard to the provisions of the development plan for the area and any other relevant factors such as the effect on amenity and on road safety. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular which has been issued today to all planning authorities in England and Wales giving advice about the siting of petrol filling stations.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the concern of some small garage men because of the action of some of the larger petrol companies? Can he take steps to ensure that a garage war does not develop between small and large garages, and that adequate protection is given against monopolistic tendencies?

My hon. Friend will find that the situation will be much improved when this guidance is followed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new mental hospital at Hong Kong is now completed; and to what extent the old mental hospital is still in use.

A custodial home was opened last year as the first stage of the new mental hospital, which it is hoped to complete early in 1960. There are 395 patients still in the old hospital.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the upgrading of the old hospital is now completed?

There is a certain amount of overcrowding at the old hospital, but a high standard of treatment is being maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now able to state in which Colonial and Trust Territories forced labour is still operating.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the International Labour Convention on the abolition of forced labour, which the United Kingdom ratified in December, 1957.

Is the Minister able to say in how many Colonial Territories this Convention is not at present being kept, and can he indicate when he is likely to receive a reply from the Colonial Governments?

I cannot say when my right hon. Friend will receive a reply, and because of that I should prefer not to anticipate the outcome of the consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations for a settlement of the difficulties in Cyprus.

I am sorry, Sir, but I regret that I cannot as yet add to my Answer of 27th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the patience of some of us is being stretched to a point of guilt in this matter? In view of the tragedy of the situation in Cyprus, is it not now desirable that negotiations should be transferred from the Turkish and Greek Governments to representatives of the people of Cyprus itself?

I recognise the restraint shown by all sides of the House in recent weeks over Cyprus. I gave an assurance that, as soon as we have something definite to say, the Government will make a statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman able to give any estimate of how much longer it will be before he is able to make a statement?

I am afraid that I cannot do that today.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that what this country and Cyprus want is a satisfactory solution and that they are prepared to wait?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions have recently been placed on freedom of meeting and freedom of speech at University College, Ibadan.

I do not know of any restrictions, but these are matters for the college authorities and would not normally be reported to my right hon. Friend.

Is not it the case, however, that, since the students returned from their Christmas vacation, they have not been able to hold meetings or debates without seeking the permission of the college authorities, and is not that a restriction on normal undergraduate life?

I cannot answer the hon. Gentleman's Question because I have already told him that I do not know; but the question of holding students' meetings is related to the general discipline of students, which is a matter for the college authorities.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to convene an economic conference of Commonwealth and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries to consider the problems arising out of the prevailing recession, and the shortage of international exchange reserves.

I said in a speech last evening that if peace is indivisible, so is prosperity. I am, therefore, in sympathy with the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind. Existing international organisations provide ample opportunity for dealing with these problems and whether new machinery is needed is a matter for consideration.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he agrees that it is clear that the Russians are relying to an increasing extent upon economic weapons as a means of extending Soviet power; and, in these circumstances, before taking them on at a Summit Conference, would not it be desirable at any rate to have a shot at getting a greater measure of agreement between the Western Powers than exists at present about how to tackle the economic problems which are besetting the free world?

Yes, Sir. As I have said, I have great sympathy for that, and indeed I expressed the same view, but whether to use the existing machinery or to find a new one is a matter to which I should like to give further consideration.

But if the Prime Minister has sympathy with this proposal, why was it that when this precise proposal was put forward last October from the Opposition benches during the debate on the economic situation, when the situation was already becoming serious and when it was possible to forecast all that has since happened, the President of the Board of Trade was allowed to turn it down flat?

I expect the way in which it was put was not attractive.

Will the right hon. Gentleman refer to HANSARD, when he will find that it was put in this way, with the addition only that there should be discussions on the problem of the slump in commodity prices, which is one of the most aggravating features of the present situation?

That is an important question.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the fact that unemployment in the United States of America is approximately 7½ per cent., Canada 9½ per cent., West Germany 7 per cent., and the United Kingdom 2 per cent., and the possibility that United States unemployment will create greater unemployment in Great Britain, what programmes for intensified slum clearance, house building, and road construction are planned and ready to be put into immediate action should unemployment increase in this country; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the widespread concern about the possibility of a marked increase in unemployment in the near future, what consideration has been given or is contemplated to formulating special plans to deal in time with any serious deterioration in the situation; and which Government Departments and what other interests are co-operating to deal with any situation that may arise.

asked the Prime Minister what action it is proposed shall be taken if recession in trade becomes marked and unemployment figures rise appreciably; and through which Government Departments and other agencies such action will be taken.

asked the Prime Minister having regard to the marked increase in unemployment in the United States of America, Canada, West Germany, and this country, if he will now review the Government's anti-inflationary measures of last September.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the substantial measure of unemployment which has developed recently in other countries and the possibility that it may create a problem in this country too great to be successfully dealt with unless special measures are devised, he will make a statement giving particulars of any plans which have been made to meet such a situation, including special measures to enable local authorities to proceed with enlarged capital works programmes.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the growing concern at the unemployment situation which has developed in many countries, and which may have a considerable influence on our domestic policy; and if he will, therefore, review the plans of Government Departments to deal effectively and speedily with any serious situation that might develop in the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the probable effects of the growing unemployment and recession in the United States of America and West Germany on the economy of this country, particularly in regard to employment within the basic industries such as iron and steel, what steps it is intended Government Departments will take to deal with this problem.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to review the plans of Government Departments to mitigate the effects of the economic recession in the United States of America upon the United Kingdom.

The general situation envisaged in these Questions would of course be the concern of a number of Departments. As I said in a speech in the country last evening, the Government have plans ready now which could be put into effect as and when remedial action might be required.

In view of the deep sympathy my right hon. Friend showed to the unemployed in the 1930s, may I beg him to consider announcing the plans he has ready in order to satisfy men who are getting frightened about their jobs by giving them details of the plans already made to provide against widespread unemployment, should this be caused by a bigger slump in America?

Last night I tried to deal with this question, which is rather too large and complicated to be dealt with on a Question and Answer basis, by giving a general account, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will no doubt be commenting on the economic outlook and taking a little further the Government's policies in his Budget speech.

Is it correct that the Prime Minister has in mind that the real threat may well be from a combination of deflation with falling prices, and unemployment resulting therefrom? If that be the case, will he notify Ministers in different Departments, who today continuously say to us that what we have to do is to fight inflation only?

No, Sir. I think this is a matter for a balanced judgment. Nothing could be worse than that we should be left, to use the expression of the right hon. Gentleman, as an island of inflation in a deflationary world—in other words, with a very high price level here while other prices were falling. We have to time these measures. All I say is that we have prepared them for use if and when they become necessary.

Does the Prime Minister realise that the speech he made at Halifax last night will only increase the fear of mass unemployment in many parts of the country? When he made the point in his speech that plans were ready as and when required—not "if" but "as"—did not that strike a chilling note in a speech which seemed to accept the inevitability of a good deal of unemployment? Will not he give us the plans? Why will not he tell us about them? He spoke of avoiding mass unemployment. Will he tell us at what extent of unemployment he will introduce these plans? How much has there to be?

No, Sir. I have tried, and the Government as a whole have tried, to keep this matter in proper perspective. We must still overcome the inflationary situation in our country, but that is not to say we should not be ready and anxious to use any counter-measures as and when they may be required.

But what is the objection to the Government announcing what are those counter-measures? Is not there much force in the point made by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) that it would restore confidence over here if it could be known what the Government intend to do? Does not the Prime Minister agree that while it may be undesirable—indeed, is undesirable—that we should be an island of rising prices when prices are falling elsewhere, it is equally undesirable that we should be dragged down in a world deflation?

Yes, Sir; but there are a lot of problems connected with this which it is impossible to deal with by Question and Answer. I should have thought that as in about a fortnight's time we shall have the great opportunity of the economic debates to fill in the picture which I have tried to draw in very rough outline, this would be best left to the Budget debates.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a matter that ought to be discussed with industry as soon as possible? Will he inaugurate discussions with the leaders of both sides of industry?

The Government are, of course, in very close touch with industry, and I am happy to say that we have much more accurate and up-to-date information than ever before in our history.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of his preoccupations at Halifax last night, he could tell us whether his anti-inflationary measures of last September are not really creating a sick economy in this country and heading us straight for a depression and a slump?

No, Sir. I think they are doing their work, as has been shown by events.

Does not the Prime Minister think that if he made known his plans, it would be to the advantage of the House and of the country? Surely in view of the many pockets of unemployment we have, which tend to increase, the House is entitled to know what are the plans. Is not it a fact that to some extent the present conditions have arisen out of the policies pursued by Her Majesty's Government?

No, Sir. I still feel, and I think the House generally will accept it, that the debates which traditionally follow the Budget—not only on the Budget proposals but on the broad economic situation—are the proper occasion when these matters should be discussed in detail.