HC Deb 19 July 1962 vol 663 cc619-21
24. Mr. Wainwright

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the area in square feet of the houses built by, or on behalf of, local authorities for the years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1959, 1960 and 1961.

Mr. Corfield

The average area of three-bedroom council houses in tenders approved in each of the years referred to was as follows:

square feet
1947 … … … … 1,043
1948 … … … … 1,053
1949 … … … … 1,055
1959 … … … … 897
1960 … … … … 897
1961 … … … … 898
These figures include the area of any outbuildings.

Mr. Wainwright

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his right hon. Friend's predecessor made a statement to a builders' conference in London on 5th April, 1962, to the effect that many new houses are too small, ill-equipped, dull to look at, or just plain ugly? Does not he think that this policy is killing the imagination of designers and architects, who want to build good houses but cannot do so because of the smaller area in which they have to work?

Mr. Corfield

It is a question of balance. Where we have the situation of a fully stretched building industry there is to some extent the necessity to choose between numbers and size. I have no doubt that the right choice has been taken.

Mr. Wainwright

But does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that houses are built to remain for 60 years, and we do not want to have slum houses with us in another 60 years' time? Will he do something about it?

Mr. Corfield

I do not think that there has been a reduction of quality to the extent to which the hon. Gentleman refers. All these sizes have been agreed, and are in part the result of improvements in architectural design.

Mr. MacColl

The hon. Gentleman said that we must choose between numbers and size. Is not he aware that the complaint is that we are getting neither numbers nor size, and that the number of council house completions is lower than 15 yearns ago?

Mr. Corfield

I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that when the rather larger area was in force, under a Government of his own party, the numbers were substantially fewer.