§ 4. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proportion approximately of the 30 per cent. rise in average house prices since 210 1959 is due to the rise in the price of land.
§ Sir K. JosephIt would not be safe to base any generalisation about the relationship between housing and land prices on the figure referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the Minister aware that, according to the Building Societies Association, up to 40 per cent. of the price of new houses in London is due to the cost of land? As he apparently does not have the figures, may I ask whether he will set up an inquiry into this? How does the right hon. Gentleman intend to deal with this fantastic rise in the cost of land which, by common knowledge, has taken place since the Government removed all the controls on land prices in 1959?
§ Sir K. JosephThe Government propose to deal with the general question of land and its price by seeing that more land comes forward to keep pace with the rising building programme.