§ 27. Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of houses completed in 1965 and 1966, respectively, was built by members of the National House Builders' Registration Council; and what proportion of all building firms is currently registered as members of that body.
§ Mr. MellishI am afraid that the information is not available in the form requested. About 70 per cent. of all private sector housing is at present being built by registered builders.
§ Mr. BrooksI congratulate my hon. Friend on what is evidently excellent progress in the last two years, but may I ask whether he has closed his mind to the possibility of imposing 100 per cent. compulsory registration by the end of the year?
§ Mr. MellishWe have consulted the N.H.B.R.C. on the matter and my right hon. Friend and the council are satisfied that, by the voluntary means now being followed, we can achieve 100 per cent. registration without any compulsion from this House. At the moment, 90 per cent. of the larger firms and 5,500 of the smaller firms are already registered, and 1306 a further 300 have come forward to apply for registration. Judging by the way things are going now, we believe that the way we are doing it is the right way.