HC Deb 05 June 1962 vol 661 cc186-7
15. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further steps he is taking to encourage property owners to buy or build more houses for rental.

Dr. Hill

As the hon. Member knows, I am encouraging housing associations, with the help of capital advanced by the Exchequer, to show that houses can be built to let at rents which people are willing to pay. I believe that this scheme will be successful, and I hope that it will help to bring private developers back into this field.

Mr. Lipton

Is it not rather late in the day—five years after the Rent Act was supposed to solve the problem—to talk about the availability of property to let? Is it sufficient for the noble Lord the other Parliamentary Secretary to attend the annual binge of the Association of Land and Property Owners in London the other day and urge it to build more houses for rental? When will the Government wake up to the fact that the Rent Act of 1957 was the biggest failure in eleven years of Conservative rule and that it has caused more misery and hardship than anything else the Conservatives have ever done?

Dr. Hill

I plainly recognise that there is a great need for building to let. One thing that has stood in the way of this is the Opposition's threat to reimpose rent control. I regard this loans scheme as a useful scheme to secure a return to building to let. There are already signs of great interest. Upwards of 20 building projects are in preparation, and the first loan has already been made.

Mr. M. Stewart

But is it not significant that five years after the passing of an Act which we were repeatedly told would solve the problem the Minister has to say that he is at the beginning of what he hopes will be a hopeful scheme? Does not that mean that the idea that the Rent Act will solve this problem must be written off once and for all?

Dr. Hill

The hon. Member can ill conceal his disappointment that this effort at building to let is to be strengthened by the provisions of the Housing Act. The responsibility for making sure that discouragement exists to building to let belongs for the most part to the party opposite.

Mr. Lipton

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.