HC Deb 07 February 1967 vol 740 cc1339-42
19. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were completed in England and Wales in the calendar year 1966; and how many he expects will be completed in the calendar year 1967.

31. Mr. Rossi

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of new permanent dwellings completed in Great Britain in 1966.

43. Mrs. Knight

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the progress of Her Majesty's Government's housing programme.

Mr. Greenwood

385,509 houses were completed in Great Britain in 1966, of which 349,480 were in England and Wales. No specific targets have been set for 1967. I expect a further rise in public sector completions in 1967. The main need is to increase the output of houses for sale.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is not the rate of increase for 1966 over 1965 something like three-quarters of 1 per cent.? Is that what the Prime Minister meant when he spoke about treating housing like an operation of war? At this rate of increase, how far shall we be into the next century before the Government's target of 500,000 houses a year is achieved?

Mr. Greenwood

The right hon. Gentleman's capacity for gloom is unlimited. I have not done the calculations that the right hon. Gentleman has done, but the fact remains that over three-quarters of a million families have moved into new homes since the present Government took office.

Mr. Rossi

As the Minister's predecessor stated in the House on 1st March last that this year the country would build 400,000 houses, will the right Gentleman please state, on his current figure, what has happened to the missing 15,000 houses?

Mr. Greenwood

My right hon. Friend on that occasion made a forecast, which failed because of the economic situation of the country. What happened last year was that the number of completions by public authorities went up by 11,500 and those in the private sector fell by 8,400. That is not something for which I blame the private sector of the industry. It really stemmed from the country's economic situation in July.

Mrs. Knight

Is not the Minister aware that a great many Cathys who are rather anxious to come home will not be very satisfied with that reply and that a great many of them put their hope and faith in the Government to carry out an election pledge, which they have failed to do?

Mr. Greenwood

It may have escaped the hon. Lady's notice, but it will not have escaped the notice of many thousands of Cathys throughout the country, that last year we built a bigger number of houses than ever before in the history of the country.

Mr. Molloy

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the party opposite, when they were in power, had shown any signs of decency and understanding to local authorities—[Interruption.] I know that hon. Members opposite do not like this because they do not like the truth—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member must not interrupt himself.

Mr. Molloy

Mr. Speaker, I think that you must have been unaware of the cacophony amongst hon. Members opposite resulting from the confusion of the Conservatives. The question I am asking is, is my right hon. Friend aware that during the 13 years when the party opposite was in power that party showed no help to the local authorities which were trying to tackle the housing problem, and that if that party had been more decent in its attitude the problem of housing would not be pressing as it is now?

Mr. Greenwood

Yes, and I think the local authorities and the private sector are to be congratulated on having survived 13 years of hon. Gentlemen opposite.

Mr. Rippon

Is the Minister aware that if the Government had carried forward Conservative policies and programmes which they inherited 70,000 more families would have been in new homes by the end of last year? Will he agree that, for what it is worth, the Chancellor's statement yesterday, which he could not make in this House, proves that what we have been saying over the last year is perfectly correct about private house building?

Mr. Greenwood

The Chancellor's statement was made yesterday in reply to a Question in this House. It was a Written Reply and it was the logical outcome of the policy which we have been pursuing over the last two years.

Mr. Boston

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the statement made by the Chancellor yesterday, and also his letters to the building societies—welcome, at least to us on this side—will go a long way towards meeting the increased demand for houses? Does he not feel it is up to the builders now to meet this demand?

Mr. Greenwood

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend, and I believe these statements, whatever dismay they struck in the hearts of hon. Gentlemen opposite, will be a great encouragement to the industry.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek your per- mission, Mr. Speaker, to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

32. Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for what reasons the total number of completed houses in Great Britain in 1966 fell below the target announced by his predecessor on 1st March 1966.

Mr. Greenwood

On 1st March, 1966, my right hon. Friend the Lord President made a forecast: he did not set a target. As a result of our economic difficulties we completed 15,000 fewer houses in 1966 than the forecast, but it was still an all-time record.

Mr. Blaker

Is the right hon. Gentleman seriously trying.—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. We are wasting time.

Mr. Blaker

Is the right hon. Gentleman seriously drawing a distinction between a forecast and a target? What sort of double-talk is that?

Mr. Greenwood

It is not double-talk at all. My right hon. Friend the Lord President made the forecast. Then, later in the year, in the face of economic difficulties, it was found not possible to do that. But the fact remains that we completed during the year, for most of which my right hon. Friend was responsible for our housing programme, more houses than right hon. Gentlemen opposite ever completed in a single year.

Sir J. Rodgers

How does the Minister square his conscience with the promise given at the election that more houses would be built for purchase, when there are far less available for private purchase now than before?

Mr. Greenwood

No doubt the hon. Gentleman has noticed the discussions which we have been having on this matter. I believe that they will bear fruit. I believe that we have the confidence of the industry.