§ 8. Mr. Moodyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of local authorities in County Durham that have, since the receipt of Circular 54/57, decided to abandon house building for the present; how many authorities have indicated they will concentrate on slum clearance; and what is the number who are slowing down their house building programme.
§ Mr. H. BrookeOf the 40 local authorities in County Durham, 35 have been in touch with me on the matters raised in Circular 54/57. Of these, I understand that four do not intend to place any houses in contract for the time being. The remainder intend that the houses they are placing in contract shall be used primarily for slum clearance and the housing of old people.
§ Mr. MoodyWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him if he realises that the building trade workers are becoming alarmed at the prospect of serious unemployment? Does not he think that it is time he looked over his shoulder and saw the damage which his legislation is doing, because the building trade workers will not forget that it is creating unemployment?
§ Mr. BrookeThis is not concerned with legislation. It is the action which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor felt it essential to take last September to counter inflation.