TECHNOBUREAUCRACY AND CITY LIFE Table 10: Houses Built for Local Authorities: England and Wales (thousands) 1945-47 222 1962 99 1948 182 1963 93 1949 142 1964 115 1950 139 1965 128 1951 139 1966 138 1952 160 1967 152 1953 195 1968 141 1954 190 1969 133 1955 153 1970 125 1956 130 1971 108 1957 127 1972 86 1958 106 1973 72 1959 93 1974 89 1960 96 1975 111 1961 87 1976 112 (54) authorities, or if they are, they are put in the lowest standard of accomodation available. The demand for council housing is very high, especially in the large cities, and it is common for councillors to point to the huge « waiting list» (a veritable sacred cow with most Labour councillors) whenever the performance of the Council as regards the housing of « those in need » is questioned. The Council housing allocation system in many ways follows the example set by building societies and estate agents. Housing Managers employed by local authorities exercise their discretion of who is or isn't a desirable tenant. « Acute difficulties are experienced by most immigrants, especially coloured immigrants, in obtaining a decent home in a private rented or purchased house. This is where the public sector might be expected to step in, fulfilling its obligation to provide homes for people in « housing need ». Or so it might be supposed ... Preference is, in many cases, given to (54) HMSO op. cit., part. III, p. 6. 37
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