§ 11. Mr. Goodhartasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what representations he has received from representatives of the building industry regarding the control of the price of houses built by private builders; and what replies he has sent.
§ 17. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what information he has given to the building industry concerning the control of the prices of houses built by private builders.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have had no correspondence or discussion with the industry on this subject.
§ Mr. GoodhartDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the imposition of price control would reduce still further the number of houses under construction?
§ Mr. PrenticeI am not sure that that supplementary question arises from this Question. In any case, it is hypothetical.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkBut cannot the right hon. Gentleman tell us something about the extraordinary statement of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, who stated that there might be something to be said for controlling house prices? Can we have a guarantee that the Government will not start that sort of control of prices, since they themselves are responsible for the rises in prices?
§ Mr. PrenticeMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government was referring to what appeared to be a suggestion by the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter).