§ 46. Mr. Swinglerasked the Prime Minister if he will set up an inter-Departmental committee to devise a long-term plan for the provision of 742 healthy homes and adequate social and educational facilities, based upon the most recent survey of land utilisation and the latest scientific advice on domestic appliances, hygiene, and the promotion of good health.
§ The Prime MinisterOver the last eight years we have had great success in building healthy homes and schools. We are continuing to do so, and I see no reason at this stage to set up an inter-departmental committee to help us.
§ Mr. SwinglerI appreciate that the Prime Minister is not able to keep a close scrutiny on all Departments at all times, but is not he aware that many people are gravely perturbed about the position? Is he aware that in the past five years there has been a 50 per cent. drop in the number of municipal houses under construction; that the slum clearance programme in many areas is making very slow progress, and that a large number of people are complaining about lack of social amenities on new housing estates? Should not he pay attention to this and set up a committee to inquire into it?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I think the actual figures show the extraordinary success in the last eight years of the house-building programme. The number of completions is far above anything dreamed of under previous Administrations. Whether an inter-Departmental committee having to take into account all these various considerations would assist or not is, I think, a matter of judgment. In my experience, such a committee would not be likely to assist in the work.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunIs not the halving of the council house-building programme, with all the suffering involved, due to the drastic rise in interest rates? May I appeal to the Prime Minister to consider sympathetically the provision of cheap housing loans to local authorities?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite another question. I am asked whether an inter-Departmental committee to consider
the most recent survey of land utilisation and the latest scientific advice on domestic appliances, hygiene, and the promotion of good health",743 is likely to assist in our task. I am bound to say, from some experience, that I do not think such a committee, whatever other subjects might be discussed, would be of very great practical importance.
§ Mr. GaitskellWould it not be better to give the local authorities more authority to build council houses by reducing interest rates and increasing subsidies?
§ The Prime MinisterIt would be better to go on building at a rate which has far exceeded anything under any previous Administration.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister aware—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. In the extremely unlikely event of the right hon. Gentleman being out of order, I should not be able to hear him if there were so much noise.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister aware that, as usual, his facts are wrong and that we are now building far fewer council houses than were built under the Labour Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe total production of houses of all kinds is higher than ever it was under any period of Socialist administration. By an act of policy it is thought right—and I believe that it is the view of the country—that the work of local authorities should now be directed mainly to the problem of slum clearance.