HC Deb 30 April 1963 vol 676 cc891-2
28. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the percentage fall in council house building and the percentage rise in office, shop and warehouse building in the last ten years.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Building and Works (Mr. Richard Sharples)

In the period 1952 to 1962, the number of dwellings completed annually by local authorities fell by about 36 per cent., though the total output of all dwellings rose by 27 per cent. I regret that figures for shops and warehouses are not available and that detailed statistics are no longer collected for office building. It is estimated, however, that the volume of office building has risen by about five times but this represents only 4 per cent. of total construction.

Mr. Allaun

Does not this really shocking position result directly from Government policy? Would not the men, materials and machinery engaged on these office skyscrapers—which the Minister said have increased five-fold—be better employed on building council houses? Who do the Government put first—homeless families or the building and property speculators?

Mr. Sharples

What the Government want to try to do is to increase the resources of the building industry generally so that it can produce more houses. In 1962, 26 per cent. of the resources of the construction industries were devoted to housing and, as I have said, only about 4 per cent. to office building.

Sir H. Harrison

Would my hon. Friend agree that, owing to its framing, this Question gives an entirely wrong view of the situation? The building of houses for private occupation is left out. Is it within my hon. Friend's recollection that within two years of the Conservative Government taking office, owing to the lead of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the house building rate was increased by 50 per cent.?

Mr. Sharples

Yes. Sir. I am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for his supplementary question. The total number of houses completed in 1962 was 305,000, 66,000 more than were completed ten years ago, even though fewer of them were for local authorities.