If more single people on council house waiting lists took the trouble to find the many elderly people who live in three-bedroomed council houses and who would dearly love the company and rent of such people, and if local authorities took the trouble to spell out the rights which the Government have given to every tenant, there would not be Such a Housing Crisis.

In essence, that sums up Ministers' attitudes and that is why we are facing Such a Housing Crisis.

Aneurin Bevan reminded the House then, and we should be reminded now, that the only way to deal with Such a Great Housing Crisis was to ensure that local authorities were properly resourced and marshalled.

During my time in local government and central Government I have never known Such a Housing Crisis.

In congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) on initiating the debate, may I say that he has left me with the difficult task of trying to tell some Conservative Members in about seven minutes why there is Such a Housing Crisis in this country.

When facing Such a Housing Crisis in this country we would be unwise not to grasp this political opportunity, given that there is such a consensus in this Chamber on the fact that council housing needs to be a far larger part of the solution than it has been for the past 10 or 15 years.

I do not understand the obsession with selling off council and housing association properties when there is Such a Housing Crisis.

They will already be in a position where they could buy a flat, so why are we giving them such huge assistance when we have Such a Housing Crisis?

I am greatly worried that there is now Such a Housing Crisis in this country that we are doing exactly what the noble Earl suggested and failing to learn the lessons of the past.