§ 42. Mr. Gibsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were built by local authorities; and how many by private builders during the second quarter of 1958.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThese figures are not yet available. They will be given in full in the Quarterly Housing Return which will be published on 31st July.
§ Mr. GibsonSurely the Minister ought to know by this time what the figures were for the last quarter. Is he aware that there is great disturbance about the fact that the figures for completed houses 999 continue to show a fall, and that there has been a fall of over 40,000 completed houses since 1954? In view of the needs, in the large towns at any rate, will he reverse the present policy and allow the local authorities to build houses to accommodate those on their general waiting lists?
§ Mr. BrookeI think Parliament perfectly well understands the policy which the Government are following and I am sure the hon. Gentleman well understands that the figures for one month are never available until they are published at the end of the following month.