House Building

HC Deb 02 November 1965 vol 718 cc865-6

40. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the increases above the numbers completed in 1964 which he proposes to secure by 1970 in the number of houses completed by local authorities, private landlords, housing associations and owner-occupiers, respectively; what are the percentage increases involved; and what overall increase over the 1964 figure he now intends to secure in 1965.

Mr. Mellish

My right hon. Friend expects some 380,000 to 390,000 houses to be completed in Great Britain in 1965, compared with 374,000 last year. The Government intend that by 1970 the rate of house building should reach half a million a year in the United Kingdom—including about 12,000 in Northern Ireland. It is too soon to predict the rate of annual increase and the division between the different components of the private and public sectors. These are matters which my right hon. Friend hopes can be settled, following consultation with the interests concerned, in the regular reviews forming part of the housing plan the Government are seeking to evolve. As far as the public sector is concerned the Government have concluded that public authorities should be producing somewhere near 250,000 houses in 1970 in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Do not these figures for 1965 show that, despite the Government's claim, between 10,000 and 20,000 houses fewer will be completed this year than my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Sir K. Joseph) had left plans for under his own programme?

Mr. William Hamilton

And left no bricks.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is it not an odd way to get to 500,000 houses in 1970 by failing to reach the planned total of 400,000 in 1965?

Mr. Mellish

My right hon. Friend, our Department and I are willing to challenge the party opposite on our housing records when we go to the polls.

Mr. Freeson

Is it not the case that, last time there was a major economic crisis, the party opposite made deliberate cuts in housing whereas the present Government have speeded the housing drive up?

Mr. Mellish

Yes, Sir. In addition, public authorities this year have been given a forward increased programme which will show itself in 1966, when they will build a great many more houses than they built under the last Administration.

Mr. Lubbock

While welcoming the Government's increased house-building drive for this year, may I ask the hon. Gentleman when the National Housing Plan will be published? Of the 250,000 houses he expects the local authorities to be building in 1970, how many will be for replacement purposes?

Mr. Mellish

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman that last figure. My right hon. Friend hopes to issue a White Paper some time in November, but discussions are going on at the moment with the building societies and the construction industry. I hope that, shortly after the White Paper, my right hon. Friend will be able to make a further statement on the consultations he is having—consultations which, I would have thought, both sides of the House would welcome rather than the party opposite hoping that they will fail.