HC Deb 24 March 1953 vol 513 cc639-41
21. Mr. Sparks

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much on the average have approved tenders for the construction of flats by local authorities increased since January, 1952.

Mr. H. Macmillan

Flats constructed by local authorities differ so much in size, height, type of construction, and amenities that the comparison of average prices is unreal.

Mr. Sparks

Is the right hon. Gentleman now saying that he has not the faintest idea by how much the average cost of flat construction has increased during the last 12 or 18 months, because the information should be in his Department?

Mr. Macmillan

I did not want to weary the House with the details. Since there is a great variation in accommodation, in the number of storeys, the type of construction—load-bearing brick or steel frame—and amenities such as lifts, I do not think it gives a fair picture to the House if one works out the price per square foot. But I will give the figures as they appear, and they appear to show in 1952 an average of 45s. 8d. as against an average of 49s. lOd. in 1951. In other words, there was a fall of 4s.

Mr. Sparks

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that what he is now saying is not borne out by the tenders submitted to local authorities for flat contracts?

Mr. Macmillan

It is borne out by the figures which, since the hon. Member asked for them, I gave him. I warned him that with these variations one might not get an accurate result.

28. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will circularise local authorities to encourage the erection, by them and by private developers, of more flats, so as to minimise the loss of good agricultural land.

Mr. H. Macmillan

I have already circularised all local authorities on the need for conserving agricultural land. Since I took office, the steel shortage made it rather difficult to press forward with flats, but I have every hope that progress can soon be made.

Mr. Gower

Does the Minister agree that this is one of the greatest problems which this country must solve, and is he aware that present development plans around our great cities, as, for example, the City of Cardiff, must mean the loss of some of the finest agricultural land?

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, but again we have to try to get a proper balance, which it is very difficult to do except in general terms, between the needs of housing and the need to preserve good agricultural land.

Mr. H. Morrison

While appreciating the point about agricultural land, which is important, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will keep in mind the fact that it is not desirable for this to become a country of universal flats?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it would help the attainment of this balance if he gave some guidance to urban authorities as to the appropriate densities which they should incorporate in their development plans?

Mr. Macmillan

I think that we have given a good deal of guidance in the pamphlets issued generally, and I am not anxious to lay down actual rules. With regard to the right hon. Gentleman's Question, nobody wants universal flats, and "universal" was the word he used; but I do think that, with modern designs, some of which the right hon. Gentleman may have seen or even have been responsible for, and the skill with which houses and flats have been used in mixed development in re-developing the central portions of cities, flats have a very big role to play, and I hope we shall use them to the full.

Mr. Mellish

Would the Minister agree that one of the finest ways of overcoming this problem would be for his Ministry to deal as a matter of urgency with slum clearance?

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, but since the outbreak of the last war very little has been done in slum clearance, because of the tremendous pressure of housing needs and the unwillingness of authorities to turn out people who already had houses, however bad. Having got through the peak demand, we are now making such progress with housing in general that we shall be able to turn with much greater emphasis to the problem of slum clearance.

Mr. G. R. Howard

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is an up-to-date survey of land in the United Kingdom, and whether land could be so considered in the planning of the next few years that land of the very highest agricultural value could be permanently safeguarded?

Mr. Macmillan

I think that question ought to be addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, but I am informed that there is no such up-to-date survey.

34. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of all new dwellings built in 1952 were flats in London county, Birmingham city, Liverpool city and Leeds city; and what was the proportion for the country as a whole.

Mr. H. Macmillan

I regret that the information is not available.