LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
From: Roy Hattersley, MP, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Whittaker, Charles Chenevix Trench, 1. M. Herring, Mrs. A. D. W raight, G. Van Praagh, R. B. Whitmore, M. L. Rosenthal.
Defending the White Paper
Sia,—Professor John Rex chooses to take issue not with the principles of my article 'Defending the White Paper' but with an example by which I illus- trate one of them. His representation of the housing situation in my constituency does, however, con- tain two points which should not be dismissed as simply the product of Professor Rex's obviously polemical attitude.
Many local authorities do allocate their houses according to 'letting regulations' which are anoma- lous and unfair. Often (in effect if not by intent) they discriminate against immigrants. The Ministry of Housing should produce 'model lettings regulations' with which all housing committees should be required to conform. I met the Minister of Housing and Local Government on August 15 and urged him to adopt this policy. The 1963 'overcrowding Act' can cause hardship and suffering. There can be no justifi- cation for evicting a family (white or coloured) on to the street or into a hostel because the house in which they live has become 'statutorily overcrowded.' But it is not Birmingham which is to blame. Parlia-
ment is responsible, as I hope to remind it in Novem- ber.
Both these important points are powerful argu-
ments in favour of a more positive integration policy. The crucial question (which neither Professor Rex nor Mr. Rose attempts to answer) is, can such a policy be carried out without a temporary slowing- down in the rate of immigration?
Some Members of Parliament, who believed that the first step towards their integration was the out- lawing of all forms of discrimination, tried (not very successfully) to strengthen the Race Relations Bill. None of the papers and few of the correspondents who attack the White Paper gave us any support. Emotional attack is easier than reasoned support— but it achieves less.
House of Commons, SW1
ROY HATTERSLEY
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