§ 20. Mr. Wadeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is caking to facilitate the acquisition of land by housing societies and self-build housing associations.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe loan facilities available to housing associations of all kinds should enable them to raise money to buy land in the open market for worthwhile schemes. Local authorities have been asked to make land available to associations where they can do so without detriment to their own housing activities.
As the hon. Member will know, the Government are now proposing in the Housing Bill to give the new Housing Corporation power to provide land to housing societies for building to let at cost rents or for co-ownership.
§ Mr. WadeHow is the Minister going to avoid competition between authorities, private developers and housing associations, where there is a shortage of land, and housing associations have some difficulty in finding land?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe hon. Member and the House will know that under the proposals of the Housing Bill the Corporation will be able to assist housing societies and, in certain circumstances, will have compulsory powers to acquire land for that purpose.
§ Mr. BrockwayDoes the Minister realise that the answer that he has given the House is quite impossible of application, because of the increasing price of land? Is he aware that in the case of Slough, for example, his right hon. Friend has admitted that the main difficulty facing housing associations will be the fact that land has rocketed in price, and will be quite outside their reach?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe hon. Member says that it is impossible, but under the £25 million scheme this is already being done in a number of cities where the pressure on land is particularly high.