HC Deb 07 April 1959 vol 603 cc15-7
28. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were completed by public authorities and private enterprise for each of the five years preceding the latest available figures.

The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Mr. Henry Brooke)

With permission, I will circulate these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Awbery

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the average for these five years is below or above the 300,000 that we were promised, and whether the building for the current year is likely to be less or more than the average for the past five years?

Mr. Brooke

I cannot forecast for certain what the building in the current year will be, but certainly for the five years referred to in the hon. Gentleman's Question the average is above 300,000 a year.

Mr. Mitchison

Is not the Minister aware than the number of council houses built last year is little more than half of the number built five years ago; that the total number of houses built last year has also diminished, and that his slum clearance campaign has resulted in clearing just about half as many houses as the local authorities were prepared to clear without the campaign?

Mr. Brooke

When the figures are published they are likely to show that the slum clearance campaign has hit the Government's target in 1958. These figures certainly show that in considerable parts of the country the need for new houses is substantially met. They also show the tremendous contribution made by private enterprise since the Socialist shackles on it were struck off.

Mr. Speaker

rose

Mr. Awbery

On a point of order. In view of the fact that the Minister's reply involves only five lots of figures, could we not press him to give us the figures?

Mr. Speaker

We have passed from that now.

Following are the figures:

NEW HOUSES BUILT BY PRIVATE BUILDERS AND PUBLIC AUTHORITIES IN GREAT BRITAIN
Period By Private Builders By Public Authorities Total
1954 90,636 257,169 347,805
1955 113,457 203,938 317,395
1956 124,161 176,464 300,625
1957 126,455 174,635 301,090
1958 128,148 145,547 273,695

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