Housing

HC Deb 29 January 1964 vol 688 c358

29. Mr. Hendry

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available figure for houses under construction in Scotland.

Mr. Noble

At the end of 1963 there were 44,687 houses under construction in Scotland by all agencies.

Mr. Hendry

May I congratulate my right hon. Friend on this splendid achievement? Does not he agree that this is an all-time record for house building in Scotland?

Mr. Noble

It is certainly the highest end-of-year figure since 1947.

Mr. Manuel

Is the Minister aware that he cannot get away with this, and that he is much too glib? Is he aware that we are not concerned with the number of houses it the course of construction, but we are concerned about the completions each year? Is he aware that these have been decreasing rapidly, compared with the houses built in 1952?

Mr. Noble

I agree that at the end of the day it is the number of completions that count. But it is difficult to complete a house if a start is not made.

Mr. Ross

Is the Minister aware that we on this side of the House congratulate him on his achievements in catching up in 1963 with what we were able to do two years after the war?

Mr. Noble

I willingly accept the hon. Gentleman's congratulations and I wish that his party had done as well with hospitals.