§ 28. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs by how much the prices of houses have increased during the six months since 1st January, 1963.
§ Sir K. JosephI have no exact information about the selling price of houses. The average tender cost of local authority two-storey 3-bedroom houses, however, rose in the first five months of this year by £47 from £2,018 to £2,065.
§ Mr. BrockwayAm I right in thinking that a report has recently been conveyed to the right hon. Gentleman on this issue of the increase in the price of houses since January, 1963? If so, is he bearing in mind the almost intolerable burden which house occupiers have to bear in the increased mortgage charges? This is becoming very serious among a large number of house occupiers.
§ Sir K. JosephI am not aware of having received a recent report on this matter, though I have seen estimates in the newspapers. I recognise that house prices have tended to rise. Nevertheless, house building is increasing faster. Of course, it is because we want to ease the strain on those who make great efforts to buy houses that we are going to introduce the Housing Corporation.