HC Deb 28 March 1961 vol 637 cc1115-6
16. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent private landlords have built houses and flats to let during the past year.

Mr. Brooke

The returns made to me do not distinguish between private houses and flats built to sell and those built to let.

Mr. Lipton

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in the absence of those figures, it looks very suspiciously as though private enterprise is quite incapable of satisfying the need for accommodation to let at reasonable rents? In those circumstances, is it not all the more necessary to encourage local authorities to go on providing houses and flats at rents within the means of ordinary people?

Mr. Brooke

I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would have read the passage in the White Paper published six weeks ago which said that the Government's aim is to secure that there will be houses for sale and houses for rent in sufficient numbers to keep pace with the rising demand of a prospering society.

Mr. MacColl

If the figures do not distinguish between owner-occupation and renting, why was the right hon. Gentleman able to quote a figure of 160,000 out of 162,000 as being built for owner-occupation?

Mr. Brooke

I am not aware of having quoted that figure, but the answer that I have just given to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) is correct.

Mr. Lipton

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give the usual notice.