HC Deb 06 December 1966 vol 737 cc1139-41
22. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimates he now makes, in view of his recent study of the matter, of the size of the housing programme in 1967, 1968, and 1969; and whether he still hopes to achieve 500,000 houses in 1970.

23. Mr. Allason

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his latest estimate of housing completions in England and Wales in 1966 and for the subsequent years to 1970.

Mr. Greenwood

I expect about 380,000 houses to be completed in Great Britain this year, of which around 37,000 will be in Scotland. There is no change in the target of 500,000. Progress, however, is subject to continuing review. Much will depend on performance in the private sector, which is less predictable and controllable than the public sector.

Mr. Allaun

Whilst I warmly welcome the Housing Subsidies Bill, which will be a big help, may I ask my right hon. Friend how he intends to reach the target when the programme remains stationary for three years at 380,000? Unlike the attitude of right hon. and hon. Members opposite, will my right hon. Friend press in the current Cabinet discussions for more of the G.N.P. to be devoted to housing than to the sale of arms?

Mr. Greenwood

The latter part of that supplementary question raises wider issues. I hope that my hon. Friend will bear in mind that the number of houses built by the public sector has steadily increased over the last two years, and we must hope that the economic situation will permit equal progress in the private sector.

Mr. Allason

Has the right hon. Gentleman then departed from the announced decision in the National Plan to allot to housing a greater priority than it has had for many years past? Has he noticed that employment in the construction industry has dropped recently?

Mr. Greenwood

We continue to give very high priority to housing, and there is no intention to depart from that. This is shown by the number of allocations of houses in the public sector.

Mr. Heffer

Will my right hon. Friend indicate what discussions he has had with the Minister of Public Building and Works on the question of development or further development of industrialised building in order to speed up the whole process?

Mr. Greenwood

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary dealt with that point in answer to an earlier Question.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is it not clear that fewer houses will be completed this year than last year? If that is the result of the Government giving high priority to housing, will the right hon. Gentleman please apply totally different policies and try at least to get back to the rate of increase which existed under the Conservative Government?

Mr. Greenwood

There was no rate of increase in the production of houses in the public sector under the right hon. Gentleman's Administration. My reply refers to about 380,000 houses. The figure last year was 382,000, which was higher than the Conservative Government ever achieved.

Mr. Rippon

Do the Government really believe that under their Administration more and more people will go on needing council houses at subsidised rents? Is it not part of their policy to see a general rise in the standard of living so that people can own their own houses? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Ministry's published figures show that next year private starts are likely to be down by 30,000? How does this affect his plans?

Mr. Greenwood

I would remind the Opposition that there are still 1 million slums and 2 million sub-standard houses and that the need for houses to rent will continue for a considerable period. I very much regret to see the satisfaction of right hon. and hon. Members opposite when they think that there is ground for believing that we are not going to succeed in housing as many people as we would like to do.