proposition that the Rent Acts should be repealed. We do not hold that view. We argued—I think with considerable cogency—that we believed that the remedy lies in the provision of more housing—I am sure that that is the best of all remedies; in the survey of Sir Edward Milner Holland—I cannot yet give the names of those who will serve on the Committee, although they will be given at the earliest date; in the improvement of older property, and in making sure—as the Minister urged local authorities—that full use is made of the 1961 Housing Act. Those powers are helpful in the control of multi-occupation.
Mr. Swingler The Leader of the House has said that the Minister of Housing and Local Government will make an announcement as soon as possible. Can he say that his right hon. Friend will make an announcement at a time to enable us to have the opportunity to put Questions to him about housing before the House adjourns on Friday?
Mr. Macleod I cannot give that undertaking, for an obvious reason.
Having had a great deal of experience of forming committees and inviting people to serve upon them, I know that one cannot always rely on getting those people, because they may be occupied in other affairs or unable to find the additional time which would be necessary. It may not be possible to do this in time. But I say to both hon. Members that we wish to have the full Milner Holland Committee set up as swifty as we possibly can and that if there is any information about that which could be given to the House by my right hon. Friend before the House rises, it will be given.
The hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) and the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East referred, almost in the form of continued supplementary questions to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence, to the future of the TSR2. I would rather not deal with that myself. But I will get in touch with the Minister of Defence tomorrow to see whether—probably in his speech—an answer can be given to the points which were raised by both hon. Gentlemen.
The hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) raised the question of Malaysia. The Malaysia Bill went through the House with a considerable welcome, but—it is a fair point to make—with one or two warning noises, such as occurred today. In relation to the United Nations and this matter, as the hon. Member knows very well, Mr. Narasimhan, representing the Secretary-General visited this area in I think, February of this year. Here, there is no question of the sort of situation arising in respect of which it has become normal for the United Nations specially to interest itself; that is to say, either a breakdown of law and order or a threat to peace.
I do not believe that anybody seriously suggests that the formation of Malaysia—to which we would wish to send our very best wishes—carries either of those dangers. But we are completely in touch with the Secretary-General on these matters and I will also see that the points made today by the hon. Member are conveyed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.
On the question of Malta, raised by the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle), the difficulty is that the conference is still going on as the hon. Lady very well knows. I have had a lot of experience of being in the chair at conferences relating to Colonial Territories, and when the hon. Lady says that the conference is running into difficulties I can reply that I cannot remember a conference that did not. Perhaps we should not be too disappointed about that; it always happens. There is a measure of agreement, and it is quite right to say that there is a considerable measure of disagreement as well. I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend is trying to hammer that out. If the conference ends in time for a statement to be made, them one can be made.
I take the hon. Lady's point about elections. I have been familiar with this point for some time and also with the attitude of the Malta Labour Party to it. However, I have never thought it wise to shout to the man at the wheel. This conference is still going on and, with my right hon. Friend chairing it, I think that the House would be well advised to leave the matter in that way.
