46. Lieut.-Colonel Dowerasked the Prime Minister whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that private citizens should be encouraged to buy and own their houses and land.
§ The Prime MinisterIn present circumstances, when prices are inflated by shortage, the Government's own housing efforts are mainly directed to providing sufficient houses to be let at moderate rentals to those in greatest need. When the shortage is overcome and prices fall, the Government will give greater facilities for house ownership and they have already raised the ceiling for local authority loans for this purpose. On the question of land, in cases where the necessary land is acquired by the competent authority, as for instance for the replanning of areas of blitz or blight, or in the planning of new towns, it is the policy of the Government that the freehold of such land should, in general, remain in public hands. Apart from these cases, it is not the policy of the Government either to encourage or to discourage the buying of land by private persons.
Lieut.-Colonel DowerIs the Prime Minister aware that considerable confusion has arisen since the Financial Secretary has said that private possessions should be encouraged and the Minister of Health has said that they should not, and is it not high time that the Government made up their mind on this subject?
§ The Prime Minister. I have just given the hon. and gallant Member the reply.
§ Mr. WalkdenIf the Government do change their policy, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that the large numbers of ordinary, humble people will be protected against the speculators, racketeers and moneylenders who exploited us after the last war?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is rather a hypothetical question.
§ Mr. KeelingWould the Prime Minister add a word about the Government's policy in regard to building societies?