asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will cause an investigation to be made into the cause of the flooding created by the Longton Brook in the City of Stoke-on- Trent, the damage done in houses, on land and roads, with a view to the payment of compensation from public funds to the occupiers of houses who have suffered through the floods.

Brooke): No, Sir; this a matter for the city council, which, I understand, is preparing urgently a scheme for the alleviation of this flooding and will submit it for my approval as soon as it can. As regards the last part of the Question, I am not aware of any provision under which compensation to householders could properly be paid from public funds.

Does not that mean that compensation can be paid extravagantly to well-placed, rich officers in the Army and the Navy but that ordinary people who produce the coal with which the nation carries on must be left in this position?

I cannot speak of the much wider issues which the hon. Member has raised. He asked me a Question. and I told him the facts so far as I am aware of them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will cause an investigation to be made of the effect on houses, sewers and roads caused by the changing levels of land, in Longton, Blurton, Trentham and Trent Vale, estimate the prospects of future changes in the level of land. and issue a report.

The Stoke-on-Trent Corporation has access to expert advice

Will the Minister reconsider his reply from this point of view? Does he accept the statement that in this area during the next 15 years many parts will sink 15–30 feet? As many people have purchased their own homes, does this not create a serious responsibility which calls for joint action by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Ministry of Power?

I agree about the importance of the responsibility, but I believe in responsible local government, and in this case I am advised that the city council has experienced technical officers and also engages a mining consultant when necessary.

While the municipality is officered by some of the finest, most able and most conscientious men in the country, are not its rights limited by legislation? Has not the time arrived when the right hon. Gentleman, together with the Minister of Power, should recognise the national responsibility and implement it so that the locality shall not be left in this position?

I am not aware of having received any representations from the city council to that effect. It was certainly my impression that it already had all the expert advice which it needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will initiate legislation extending to the remainder of the country the power granted to sanitary authorities in London by Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, to deal with nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by house doves and pigeons.

My right hon. Friend sees no prospect of initiating legislation for this purpose for some time to come, and he is not aware that local authorities generally want the power. The particular Section is, of course, chiefly aimed at conditions in towns. But if authorities do feel that they need additional powers my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider their representations.

Will my hon. Friend take it from me that there are many towns which would like to exercise the rights London has to abate the nuisance from pigeons, particularly my constituency? Will he take the opportunity of squeezing a Clause into some convenient Bill to give the provinces the same power to deal with this nuisance as London has?

The Government have a Public Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in preparation at the moment, and if the feeling in local government generally is that something should be incorporated into it, we will gladly examine the matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the smoke and sulphur dioxide content of the air in Salford during the November fogs and what effects it has had or is estimated to have on people suffering from chest complaints.

My right hon. Friend is informed that daily measurements taken by the local authority during November showed high levels of smoke and sulphur in the area. I am advised that the amount of sickness in Salford during November showed the normal upward seasonal trend. Figures were lower than in November, 1957. and there were no sudden increases associated with fog.

Is the Minister aware that the bronchitis death-rate in Salford is double the national average and that there are 1,200 chronic bronchitis cases in the city? Does he feel that the present measures are good enough?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in attempting to deal with the matter of the obnoxious fumes being emitted from the factory at Salford he ought to look at a map? Salford is a very long way from the factory; I happen to live within the orbit of the fumes.

I think the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question relates to the next Question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when the matter is brought to the notice of the Minister of Health and he is told that the high incidence of chronic bronchitis in Lancashire is related to polluted air, he always refers us to the Minister of Housing and Local Government? Will he tell the House what measures he has taken to ensure that the Clean Air Act is implemented?

We have a number of Questions subsequently on which, perhaps, I might take the opportunity to give that information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the fears of neighbouring local authorities of chemical pollution from the chimney planned at Petrochemicals Limited, Carrington, which would emit over 36 tons of sulphur dioxide daily; and what action he proposes to take following the recent inquiry.

I understand that the neighbouring local authorities expressed their views at the recent inquiry. The report of the inspector who conducted the inquiry will be ready soon, and my right hon. Friend will study it carefully before reaching his decision.

Since at the inquiry one medical officer of health has stated that we must reduce pollution if we are to avoid the danger of a disaster such as the 1952 disaster in London when 4,000 people were killed, does the hon. Gentleman think that the Clean Air Act and the proposals to increase the alkali inspectorate are being implemented quickly enough? Also, will he ensure that in future inspection of works of this kind takes place at night, since I am informed that many works carry out their most dangerous practices at night and thus avoid detection?

In reply to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I will certainly see what we can do in that respect. With regard to the first part, there has been a striking increase in the number of schemes for smoke controlled areas which has been submitted to my right hon. Friend during the last few months. Perhaps I might be allowed to say that we are currently pressing all local authorities to get on with this job more rapidly than at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what reports he has received of the amount of sulphur dioxide and smoke content in the air in the City of Stoke-on-Trent during the recent fog periods; what was the amount and effect of other forms of air pollution; and if he is satisfied with the progress made since the Clean Air Act. 1956, came into operation.

My right hon. Friend has as yet received no reports of the amount of pollution in the air of the city during recent weeks, but he is informed that during November there was nothing abnormal about the increase of illness or the number of deaths. A start is being made in reducing air pollution in the city. Four smoke control areas are under discussion and the difficult problems of industrial pollution are under active investigation.

While appreciating the work which has been done by enlightened manufacturers who have modernised equipment and cut out pollution, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is a minority about whom action should have been taken long ago? Since the Act has been in operation for so long, is it not time that this was treated as a matter of urgency?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that this is being treated as a matter of serious urgency by the alkali inspectorate, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if the pollution of the air at Scunthorpe by the emission of fine iron-oxide dust from the steel works has been brought to his attention; if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Alkali Order, 1958, are being complied with; if he is satisfied that all practical means are being adopted to abate the nuisance and injury to health which this emission causes; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this difficulty. In pursuance of the 1958 Order it is the duty of his alkali inspectors to ensure that the hest practicable means to control the emissions are found and used, and they are energetically pursuing this problem. I am afraid, however, that no easy or immediate solution is likely.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this difficulty has increased by 100 per cent. in the last four years and that the pollution of the air in Scunthorpe itself is far worse than in the surrounding districts, as shown by the incidence of respiratory diseases? In view of the expense which will obviously have to be undertaken to overcome this difficulty, is it not time that the Government themselves took steps to help to overcome the expense? Is it not indecent in the circumstances that the present controllers of the steel works, who spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on anti nationalisation propaganda, do not even take the trouble to safeguard the health of the workers and their families?

The Question has nothing to do with propaganda; it refers to the Clean Air Act and related matters. These responsibilities only came under the national alkali inspectorate in the current year, and at both national and local level we are doing all we conceivably can to improve the position.

As the hon. Gentleman has given similar Answers to all Questions on air pollution this afternoon. will he tell the House exactly what he means by "taking action"? What has he done? What is the form of the letters he has written? What does he do in the way of visiting local authorities?

I have given similiar Answers because the Questions themselves have been similar. Since these responsibilities came under the direction of the alkali inspectorate, we have strenthened the inspectorate and we are making more frequent visits to factories scheduled under the Alkali Act. We are also engaged in discussions at national level with trade associations to try to improve matters quickly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to ease the financial burden imposed on some amateur cricket and other clubs by the recent rating revaluation.

The Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955, protected many clubs from any increase in rates upon revaluation. The Committee on the rating of charities and kindred bodies is considering their future treatment for rating, and I must await its Report.

May I take it from that answer that the Committee will consider a change in regard to playing fields which are only covered by Section 8 (1, c) of the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955, provided that they do not charge for admission at the moment? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Heaton Cricket Club in my constituency is an amateur club whose ground has been considerably improved, largely due to the personal efforts and labours of the members, and whose assessments have been greatly increased? This is an entirely unsatisfactory state of affairs and not the way to encourage amateur clubs to continue in being.

I am afraid that without notice I cannot reply in regard to a particular case, but I know that the Committee to which I referred has received memoranda from a number of representative bodies, and I think that it would be as well to await its Report before deciding what further action is desirable.

Can the Minister give us any indication when he is likely to receive the Report?

I hope that it will be early next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to instal machinery in order to extract recoverable materials from household and trade refuse.

A general encouragement to local authorities to instal plant and machinery for this purpose would not be justified, because the cost would in many cases be more than the salvage was worth. But I am always prepared to look at individual cases on their merits.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that a number of local authorities bury their refuse and thus lose much valuable material, such as metal? Surely the proceeds from the recovery of the metal would offset to a great extent the cost of the machinery?

It may or may not do so. Many local authorities find that the most economical way of disposing of refuse is by controlled tipping, but I am always ready to look further into any case in respect of which my hon. Friend feels that something is not right and where we might be able to help local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what decision he has given on a proposal for the building of a community centre in the Hatfield new town, attached to a public house which is to be financed and built by a brewery company as one building; and what is his policy on the development of community centres in new towns.

I have approved the proposal mentioned in the first part of the Question. In answer to the second part, I am anxious to see the provision of community centres in the new towns, and I would expect that they would as a rule be provided, as they are elsewhere, either by local authorities or by private organisations and individuals.

Is the Minister aware that the agreement which he admits having made for the building of what is called a community centre attached to a public house is strongly opposed by a large body of public opinion? Is he further aware that experience shows that community centres have to be kept away from public houses if they are to be successful? Will he not reconsider his decision and tell the brewers in Hatfield that they cannot have permission to build an imitation community centre attached to a public house?

Frankly, this seemed to be a public-spirited experiment. There were precisely four objections levelled against it. A local inquiry was held and, as a result, it seemed to me desirable to give approval.

Is it not about time that the Government did this job out of their own finances instead of going cap in hand to a brewery which will make a pretty penny out of the proceeds?

No, I do not hold the Socialist view that the State should never receive any assistance from the public.

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "experiment"? Is it an experiment that a community centre should be turned into a public house?

I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman is as closely acquainted with this matter as I am, but I am sure that generally my decision has given satisfaction in the locality.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the great and growing pollution of the River Severn due to a discharge of untreated sewage from Gloucester City; and whether he will authorise the building of a modern sewage plant to remedy this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that damage is being done to the salmon fishing in the lower reaches of the Severn through the discharge of untreated sewage from the City of Gloucester into the river; and whether he will take steps to enable the corporation of the City to accelerate the sewage disposal works which have been begun.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the pollution of the River Severn at Gloucester. A scheme for new works has been approved in principle and will go ahead without any delay on his part, as soon as satisfactory tenders are received.

Will my hon. Friend push on with this matter with all speed? Is he aware that there is not only a danger to health in areas below Gloucester City, but that the salmon fishery has fallen by one-third in the last few years, which is causing a great deal of loss to my constituents?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the present scheme, which includes only screening of sediment, is quite insufficient for dealing with the pollution of the river and that what is required is something which I understand is called biological filtration, which is very much more effective although, I admit, costing more? Will he consider this very important matter?

That has been considered by the Gloucester Corporation. The existing scheme, which has been approved, will cost£1¼million. A scheme on the lines suggested by the hon. Gentleman would cost a great deal more and would involve a delay of probably two or three years before it could be brought about The best thing to do is to allow the present scheme to go forward as rapidly as possible and then to see what conditions are like.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what special Government assistance will be given in the case of unadopted roads, where the frontages are owned by old-age pensioners who are not in a position to pay councils their charges for making them up if they adopt them.

I am afraid I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 18th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine).

Is my hon. Friend aware that the cost per foot frontage in 1939 was 25s. and that today it is about£4 10s.? Can he not do something more to help those people who bought their houses in 1939 and who as old-age pensioners would find even a few shillings a great expense? Can he do something to help them?

My right hon. Friend recognises that there are hard cases in this matter, and we are currently examining various categories of hard cases with a view to seeing whether it is desirable to take action.

Is there not a great deal to do with unadopted roads which needs to be considered?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many alkali inspectors are employed by his Department in Manchester.

One district inspector is based on Manchester at the present time. My right hon. Friend hopes to appoint an additional inspector for Manchester next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) in the case of a petrol station to be built on the Kirby road, near Frinton-on-Sea, what evidence of need was produced to show that this petrol station was necessary; and what were his inspector's conclusions on the question of need;

The inspector who held the local inquiry reported that there was no strong evidence of need for the petrol station. The point at issue on the appeal was not, however, whether a station on this site was necessary, but whether it would be injurious to amenity; and on that point, as my hon. Friend knows, my right hon. Friend did not feel that refusal of permission would be justified.

In view of my hon. Friend's undertaking, given in the Adjournment debate last week, can he say whether his right hon. Friend the Minister has studied this case again? Is my hon. Friend aware that his replies to date have convinced people that a mistake has been made which he is trying unsuccessfully to cover up? Is there any sign yet of the Minister thawing from his frozen attitude of unwillingness to revoke this decision?

I said in the Adjournment debate that my right hon. Friend would study what my hon. Friend said on that occasion. My right hon. Friend has done that and has decided against revocation of the decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the outcome of the discussions which his Department has been having with the local authority associations with regard to the admission of the Press to council meetings.

The discussions are not yet concluded.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Whickham Urban District Council in my constituency is denying reasonable facilities to the local Press by automatically taking council meetings in committee? Is he also aware that the senior officials are being deprived of the monthly reports which contain their work? What is worse and disgusting for these conscientious officials is the humiliation in being kept in suspense waiting outside the council chamber to be called to answer questions put by the councillors. Does the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary approve of these methods, or are they prepared to use their influence to bring about a better mode of conduct and behaviour?

Obviously, my right hon. Friend cannot deal with a question of this nature piecemeal on the basis of one local authority here and another there. What we have done is to have conversations with the Association of Municipal Corporations, which is taking evidence from its members. My right hon. Friend has also received a deputation from the Press, and we hope in the near future to come to a policy decision in this matter.

My hon. Friend's supplementary question, which admittedly was rather long, introduced something new, from which, I understand, council officials are now being excluded from council meetings. Surely that is very undesirable?

I entirely agree. If the hon. Member will give me that information I will gladly have it looked into.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what savings he has made in the cost of running his Department in the current year, as compared with 1956–57, by improved efficiency and the use of new techniques.

The cost of running my Department in the current year will be more than in 1956–57, after taking account of certain pay and other cost increases applicable to the whole Civil Service. The increase would have been larger if the organisation and efficiency of the Department had not been kept under constant review. Despite increased work and a particularly heavy burden of legislation, the number of staff employed has been reduced by 27 over the past year or so.

Is the Minister aware that a reduction in staff of 27 represents hardly any saving at all as compared with the total cost of running his Department? As the right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question as to the exact saving, by what right does he say to local authorities that they can avert increases in expenditure and avoid them falling on the rates due to the operation of the block grant by making savings of this nature?

Surely, the hon. Member knows that it is not possible to quantify every single saving. Since 1956–57, however, we have abolished our regional organisation, which cost£109,000 a year, we have introduced mechanisation into the accounts branch, we have introduced a new decentralised registry system, and we are constantly on the lookout for possibilities of savings in cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement on the work of the English Local Government Commission set up under the Local Government Act, 1958.

The Commission expects to announce early in January the areas with which its review will commence.

Does the Minister know whether the Commission has received any replies from local authorities wishing to be considered without delay?

Yes, Sir. I understand that the Commission asked for the replies by today. Having received them—that is, after today—the Commission will try to frame its programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will request Sir Arton Wilson, who is to conduct an inquiry on his behalf into the nature and extent of the use of caravans as residential accommodation, to include within his inquiry the special problem of the Romany caravan dwellers.

No, Sir. As the hon. Member indicates, the Romany caravan dwellers are a special class and my right hon. Friend does not think that they create problems which require a national investigation. In any event, I am afraid it could only complicate and prolong Sir Arton Wilson's investigation to include them and that my right hon. Friend is not willing to do.

I am bound to say that I am rather surprised at that answer. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the local authorities throughout West Middlesex who asked to see him on the special problem of the itinerant caravan dweller have been told that no purpose can be served in seeing him because the inquiry is to be conducted by Sir Arton Wilson. Surely, the hon. Gentleman is ignoring the problem which the local authorities have brought before him.

I do not agree. The major problem with which the House is concerned is the normal caravan problem rather than the gipsy problem. The inquiry would only be complicated and prolonged if it were extended in the way suggested.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in the course of his inquiry into the use of caravans as residential accommodation, Sir Arton Wilson will be taking evidence from local authorities; what invitations are being sent to such local authorities; and when the invitations will be sent.

I understand that Sir Arton Wilson proposes to invite evidence from local authorities and my right hon. Friend would prefer to leave the arrangements in his hands.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say how his right hon. Friend proposes to deal with this other difficult problem of the Romany or itinerant caravan dweller, which constitutes such a nuisance, especially on the outskirts of the Metropolis? Is the Minister simply shirking the issue, or does he propose to do anything about it?

My right hon. Friend is not shirking the issue. We want to confine the inquiry to the major problem. The Romany problem is not a national one but varies from area to area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has reached a decision on the question of restoring to agricultural use the land at Duggins Lane, Berkswell, in the County of Warwick, which was formerly the site of the Tile Hill Hostel, was derequisitioned on 20th September, I957, and is now derelict; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the matter in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and I will certainly inform the hon. Member as soon as a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received concerning the effect of Government loans on mortgage rates as a result of the meeting of the Council of the Building Societies' Association on I2th December last.

None, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is in the same position as I am, for neither of us has had a reply? Would the right hon. Gentle

In my case, there is no question of a reply. I have not asked the Association a question on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, before making a loan to any building society, he will ascertain that mortgages granted by the society as a result of Government loan are conditioned by the credit-worthiness of the applicant and not by the sex.

While I am sure that the majority of members of the Building Societies' Association do as the association says and make no discrimination between men and women applicants for mortgages, I intend, as my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary said in reply to the hon. Lady yesterday, to discuss this matter further with the association.

As it has taken some six weeks to catch the right hon. Gentleman, and as he will not surface again for at least another twelve, if I put down a Question on this important matter will he answer it on the date the Question appears even if it is not reached?

I should not like to give an undertaking like that without first seeing the Question. If the hon. Lady would care to give me any of the detailed information which she said last night she might feel able to give me to help me to pursue my inquiries, I shall be grateful to her.

Is it not a fact that ladies applying to building societies for advances are consistently asked for a male guarantor?

No, Sir. The building societies make some 300.000 advances a year and the hon. Lady has quoted 11 cases where a male guarantor has been demanded. This is a matter which I am anxious to discuss with the Building Societies' Association, as, I think, the hon. Lady would wish.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made by local authorities in providing housing for single persons of working age; and what progress he envisages in I959.

All the records of houses provided by local authorities are based on types of dwellings, not classes of tenants. Local authorities are however building an increasing number of one-bedroom dwellings; the proportion is now about one in five, and is likely to increase. While most of these are used for old people, some are being let to single workers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many landlords of furnished accommodation have been prosecuted under Section 12 (6) of the Rent Act, I957, for failure to provide a rent book.

I regret that this information is not available.

Will my right hon. Friend accept from me that this Section of the Act is being flagrantly broken by landlords of small furnished accommodation, at any rate in Notting-ham? Will he consider consulting his right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in order to consider the possibility of instructing managers of National Assistance boards to report to local authorities, who have the power to initiate prosecutions, all those cases where tenants of furnished accommodation who have applied for National Assistance have said that their landlords have refused to supply them with rent books?

My hon. and gallant Friend is fully entitled to his view of what is happening. I explained to him that neither I nor anybody else had got the information to reply to his original question. I am sure that what he said in his supplementary question will be brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

In view of what the hon. and gallant Member has said, would not the right hon. Gentleman find it quite easy to obtain returns from the local authorities showing how many prosecutions they have started?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether in view of the wide extension of the practice of charging premiums for HOUSE-lettings. he now proposes to bring before the House proposals for strengthening the law to prevent this unfair practice by HOUSE-owners.

I have no evidence of any increase in demands for premiums as such. A Bill relating to excessive charges for furniture and fittings introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby), received its Second Reading last Friday.

Is the Minister aware that that reply is completely contrary to everything that was said in last Friday's debate upon the Bill to which he has referred? Is he also aware that I have here a report published by a newspaper in his own constituency of two cases which occurred within the last week or two, in one of which the rent was£300 and the furniture and fittings were charged at£250. and in the other where the rent was£208 inclusive and the premium for what are called complete fittings was£450? Is not the Minister aware that all over London there are serious complaints about excessive charges for premiums? Will he undertake to give the Bill to which he has referred Government support when it reaches the Committee stage?

The two cases which the hon. Member has quoted prove nothing until somebody has looked at the furniture and fittings. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary indicated last Friday that the Government supported the general purpose of the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby), although it may require further examination in Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the total number of houses in England and Wales under requisition when the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Act was introduced in I955, and the number of these still under requisition on 30th September, 1958.

The number of dwellings, i.e., houses and flats, held under requisition at 6th June, 1955, was 89,539: at 30th September, 1958, it was 3I,573.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what provision he has in mind for dealing with the residue of properties which will almost certainly still be under requisition on 31st March, 1960, in the London area, despite the very strenuous efforts which local authorities are making to derequisition them?

I am not prepared to accept the hon. Lady's words, "almost certainly". If local authorities take this matter seriously, as the great majority are doing, they will be able to comply with the law by 31st March, I960. I know that the hon. Lady's own borough council has received approval to buy 75 properties to house licensees. I understand that the council has bought I4 of them so far.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce amending legislation to assist tenants against whom orders for possession are made under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1958, and for whom no alternative accommodation is available.

In view of the discretion given to the courts under the Landlord and Tenant Act, I958, I do not think that further measures are necessary.

Is the Minister aware that at Edmonton County Court recently the judge, dealing with tenants who were old age pensioners, told them that if they took an order for possession along to the council the council would have to help them, and accordingly made an order for possession in six weeks? Is he further aware that in another case, of a labourer aged 63, the judge said that the kindest thing to do would be to make an order for possession and then the labourer could get accommodation from the council? The judge gave that advice although all the local authorities in the area had long waiting lists with little hope of being able to house the people on them. Is it the Minister's intention to allow these people to be evicted without taking further action to help them?

The number of cases coming into court so far under the Landlord and Tenant Act has been far smaller than many people prophesied when the Measure was before the House. I have no reason to believe that the number of cases of difficulty will be too great for local authorities to be able to cope with them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of additional houses local authorities will be able to start within the next four to five months in response to his Circular No. 60/58.

This will depend on the extent to which local authorities speed up the letting of tenders, and I cannot make any estimate of that.

Is it not unrealistic to expect local authorities to turn their building programmes on and off like a tap? If the Minister is really serious in wanting them to increase council house building, should not he extend the period laid down in the circular? If not, and if he does not look into the financial difficulties of local authorities, is not the circular a mere piece of political window dressing?

No, the circular is a piece of excellent good sense. Certain local authorities have intimated to me that they were not being enabled to get on with house building as quickly as they wished. This circular now gives them the "go ahead".

But will not the Minister agree that for effective, efficient and economic housing development continuity of programme is essential, and that the action of the Government from time to time during the last few years has prevented that happening?

No. It has always been held that the speeding up or slowing down of public authority work may be a valuable contribution towards the handling of the nation's economic affairs. It seems to me to be perfectly reasonable that at this time, when the resources of the nation are not overstrained, local authorities should be encouraged to go ahead quickly with jobs which may be started and completed within the next twelve months.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that the need is emphasised since the number of houses being built by local authorities is now little more than half what it was four years ago?

The total number of houses being built is far, far greater than it ever was under a Socialist Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the total number of houses being built is little more than three-quarters of what it was four years ago?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has reached a decision on the number of houses the Easington Rural District Council may build under the slum clearance scheme.

At a meeting held at the Ministry last month, representatives of the Easington Rural District Council, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, put forward a case for more slum replacement houses to he built in existing villages, and fewer in Peterlee new town, than the numbers originally agreed with the Durham County Council as local planning authority. I believe that the rural district council in suggesting these changes has under-estimated the rate at which the new town development corporation is likely to build in the future, and I am asking it to reconsider its case in the light of the figures produced at that meeting on the corporation's behalf.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is misinformed about the proceedings at that meeting, which I myself attended? Is he aware that we have no desire to reduce the number of buildings in the new town of Peterlee but that we wish to see the number increased? Is he aware that the rural district council is becoming very annoyed with him because of his decision. having regard to the needs of the community? Is he further aware that all he is doing is to increase my votes at the next election? What good will that do him?

We all appreciate the presence of the right hon. Gentleman. I did not realise that his continued presence here was in danger. Under the present arrangements, there is provision for 250 houses to be built for slum clearance at Easington or Peterlee, and I do not think that that is an inadequate allocation.

Allaun asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, in the light of his recent circular to local authorities encouraging a revival of councilhouse building, he will consider restoring the housing subsidies removed earlier.

No, Sir.

Will the Minister reconsider that Answer? Is he aware that since he ended the subsidy on most types of houses many cities have been forced to confine their housing purely to rehousing slum clearance tenants, leaving thousands of families in tragic circumstances, sometimes with three children in their late 'teens and mixed sexes sharing the same bedroom, and with young families waiting ten years on the housing list with no chance of getting a house, with even serious health cases unable to get a house? Will he reconsider the matter?

The Government have been responsible for far more housing progress than their predecessors. Local authorities should be well able to continue to build the new houses which they require provided that they subsidise only those tenants who need subsidising and only to the extent of the need.

I remind the right hon. Gentleman that there was a war from 1939 to 1945. If he wants to restore the rate of building for general need to a reasonable level, is he not aware that there is no other way than by restoring the housing subsidy, and that to do otherwise is to deprive many young people of the chance of getting a house of their own?

Many local authorities can overcome their financial difficulties in housing by ceasing to subsidise people who do not need subsidy.

Would it not be better, from the Government's standpoint, to provide subsidy to enable local authorities to build more of these houses than to pay unemployment benefit to the many building workers who are unemployed?

I have just said, with reference to a circular which was criticised by hon. Members opposite a moment ago, that I am encouraging local authorities to get on with houses which they can put out quickly to tender.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will reconsider, in the interests of equality of treatment with neighbouring authorities, his decision not to allow the special industrial subsidy to Saltburn and Marske Urban District Council on the new houses they have made available for workers coming from outside to Tees-side.

This subsidy is payable only in special circumstances. I agreed that it should be made available to help to provide houses for an essential minimum number of industrial workers coming into Tees-side. These houses are already being provided. At present I see no case for extending the arrangements.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Saltburn and Marske Urban District Council feels that it has made a very real contribution to the industrial housing needs of Teesside and that it is most unfair it should be discriminated against in the circumstances of what is a mere technicality?

No discrimination is intended. This subsidy was promised in the first instance by my Department to those housing authorities which had applied for it first, but this is a subsidy related to industrial need. It is not related to the particular circumstances of each separate local authority and, in my view, we have already promised a trade subsidy on a sufficiency of houses to meet the industrial need which was brought to our attention.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the reasons given for the resignation of five members of the Welsh Advisory Council; and whether he will make a statement.

The former Chairman of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire indicated that the principal reason for his resignation was that the relationship between the Council and the Government had not been close enough. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sought to meet this criticism by appointing a member of the Government as Chairman for a temporary period. The four members who thereupon resigned gave the reason, among others, that they thought this would frustrate the Council's work.

Is the Minister aware that there has not been a more unpopular appointment in the history of the Welsh people? In view of the fact that the leading people of this Council have now resigned, what must the Welsh people do to get the Minister off their backs?

I beg leave to doubt the correctness of the implication in the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question. On the second part, I thought he was extremely rude to the 23 Welshmen who have not resigned.

Do I gather from the Minister's reply that the Chairman resigned because the relations between him and the Government were not close enough and that the other five resigned because they were too close? May I ask a question which has been commented upon in Wales? The Prime Minister has said that the right hon. Gentleman was appointed for an interim period to change the character of the Council. What have the right hon. Gentleman and the Prime Minister in mind in that respect? Is the real reason why these members have resigned the fact that the Council was set up to give independent advice to any Government of the day but that they regard its independence as being undermined by the right hon. Gentleman's presence?

In reply to the first part of that question, I have nothing to add to my original Answer. Secondly, the right hon. Gentleman suggested that this was a temporary appointment to change the character of the Council. There was no implication whatever of that nature in the decision of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. On the contrary, he indicated, as the former Chairman of the Council had already said, that in these nine or ten months it would be desirable to review the whole work and functioning of the Council and its future relationship with the Government.

I gather, therefore, that it is correct that the Prime Minister said that the right hon. Gentleman had been appointed Chairman for an interim period so that the function of the Council should be reconsidered. Does the Minister confirm this and that he is to consider changing the Council's function?

No. What is to be reviewed is the whole work and functioning of the Council. It is very desirable to have a stocktaking period after ten years, and I think that all members of the Council for Wales are agreed on that. That does not necessarily imply that there will he any changes at the end of it. I repeat that 23 of the 27 other members of the Council have not resigned and, therefore, presumably do not feel frustrated.

As a former Minister who took a leading part in the establishment of the Council for Wales, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that we deliberately did not include Ministers on the Council and much less as Chairmen? Is he aware that it is desirable for this Council to work in co-operation with the Government but, nevertheless, to be independent of the Government—

As the Prime Minister said.

—and that, therefore, it is thoroughly undesirable that a Minister and member of the Cabinet should be Chairman of this body and desirable that independent, public-spirited Welshmen should be Chairman of the Council for Wales?

I was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chairman for an interim period. My right hon. Friend explained that he was taking emergency action in an emergency situation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the names of the people he proposes to appoint to the Welsh Advisory Council in place of those who resigned.

The Council was brought up to its full strength of 28 by the appointment last month of Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards and myself. The filling of the four vacancies which have since occurred is under consideration.

Is the Minister aware that he has now reduced this Council to such a laughing stock in Wales that the best thing he could do would be to wind it up, that the Welsh people have no confidence in it, that whether 23 members are left or not, the Welsh people regard it as simply the Minister's voice in Wales and that that is not wanted? [Horn. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."]. I am speaking for Wales.

There appears to be a fundamental difference between the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) and the 23 Welshmen who are loyally continuing to serve on the Council for Wales.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it would be extremely difficult for any Member, however clever. to express clearly the opinions of all the people of Wales about this matter?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent, in view of four additional resignations from the Welsh Advisory Council, he contemplates a change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Welsh affairs; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government contemplate no change in the policy of getting more new houses and schools and roads built in Wales, getting piped water and other modern services laid on to villages and farms hitherto without them, improving the opportunities for Welsh farmers and encouraging new industrial developments. This policy the Government are vigorously and successfully pursuing, and progress since 1951 has been remarkable.

Am I therefore to assume that the present rate of unemployment in Wales, which is twice the average for Great Britain and is 10 per cent. in North Wales and 7 per cent. in West Wales, is also a record of the Government's achievements?

No, Sir. The whole Welsh people are, however, well aware of the complete failure of the Labour Government to solve the unemployment problem in North-West Wales. Wales is also aware that even within the last twelve months firms that will employ more than 5,000 people have already decided to come and set up in West-South Wales.

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply—

And of the Minister himself.

—and of the Minister himself—I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first possible moment.