§ 18. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have ceased to build rented houses since the raising of interest rates on housing loans and the removal of most types of housing subsidy three years ago; how many have ceased in this period building houses for overcrowded and homeless families other than those from scheduled slum clearance areas; and what steps he proposes to reverse the fall in council house building.
§ Mr. H. BrookeForty-five more local authorities had houses under construction or in tenders approved at 30th September, 1959, than was the case two years earlier. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available. The number of council houses under construction is not falling. It is, in fact, 17,000 more than it was a year ago.
§ Mr. AllaunBut is it not a fact that Government policy has cut council house building from 235,000 four years ago to 140,000 last year, and to still fewer this year, and since the hopes of the waiting lists families, many of them in pitiable circumstances, have become even fainter, and since last week we were told in the House that cheap loans could be provided at relatively small cost, would the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this proposal?
§ Mr. BrookeIt is true that there was a period when the number of council houses built went up far higher than it had ever been under the Labour Government—
§ Mr. ManuelDeal with the question.
§ Mr. Brooke—but over a large part of the country the housing situation has 979 now, thanks to council building under the Conservatives, considerably eased; but a great deal of further council house building is required, and I am anxious to see that it is done.
§ Mr. M. StewartThe Minister has just said that a great deal of council house building is required. Is it not the case that over recent years and as an effect of his policy the amount of council house building has fallen? What changes does he propose in his policy to get the result that he has just described as desirable?
§ Mr. BrookeThe hon. Member could not have heard my answer to the original Question. I said that 17,000 more council houses are under construction at this moment than was the case a year ago. We have taken steps, and they are operating.
§ Mr. StewartThe Minister must be aware that the figure of 17,000 is extremely small compared with the fall in council house building that has occurred over recent years, or is it his suggestion that this 17,000 is a sign that council house building is going back to anything like the figure it was? Because, if not, there is really no point in quoting it.
§ Mr. BrookeWhat I am saying is that there is considerably more council house building now than there was. There is also, of course, much more private building than there was, and thanks to our policies—
§ Mr. ManuelStonewalling.
§ Mr. Brooke—the housing needs of the people are increasingly being met.
§ Mr. LiptonNot in London.
§ Mr. DugdaleInstead of being so very complacent about this matter, will the Minister realise that in some areas there is a very grave situation indeed?
§ Mr. AllaunTragic.
§ Mr. DugdaleIn my own constituency, for example, there are 7,000 people on the housing list out of a total population of 70,000.
§ Mr. BrookeI am not at all complacent. Any local authority which thinks it has not got a large enough allocation for building is at liberty to apply to me.
§ 41. Mr. G. Jegerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have houses in course of construction other than for slum clearance; and how many have ceased building houses except for slum clearance.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe purpose for which houses are being built depends on how the authorities decide to use them when completed. It is not until the houses are completed that the authorities finally decide how to use them. I regret therefore I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks.
§ Mr. JegerIs the right hon. Gentleman deliberately refraining from collecting the figures in order that he may shelter behind the smokescreen of complacency because he knows that his housing policy has failed to rehouse those people who most need houses?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir, the Government's housing policy emphatically has not failed. These figures are available only after the houses have been completed and occupied, and the hon. Gentleman addressed a Question to me about houses in course of construction, which is a different thing.