HC Deb 30 January 1967 vol 740 cc19-20
29. Mr. Channon

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consultations he has had with private builders about giving incentives to the building industry during the present economic difficulties.

Mr. Prentice

There have been consultations with representatives of various branches of the industry regarding steps which would serve in particular to stimulate private sector house building.

Mr. Channon

Does not the Minister realise that as long ago as 15th December the Prime Minister gave a hint to the House that some such step was going on? When are we to hear further about this? Can he suggest what sort of help we shall get? I hope that it is not to be the sort of help we had with Selective Employment Tax. If we were to have such help again, it would be final disaster.

Mr. Prentice

There have been a number of developments, of which the hon. Gentleman should be aware. The announcement of the option mortgage scheme; larger subsidies for local authority housing; the reduction in Bank Rate; the increase in the funds available to building societies—all of these are factors which would help. I expect that there will be an announcement of some other Government measures fairly shortly.

Mr. Paget

Is not the Minister aware that the Rhodesian Government have taken steps to see that the building industry takes up any slack in their economy? Would he consider sending over a mission to examine their highly successful methods?

Mr. Prentice

I have not considered getting any guidance from that direction, either on this matter or on any other matter.

Sir G. Nabarro

If the aggregation of all of the advantages which the Minister is now claiming, such as the reduction in Bank Rate, the mortgage option scheme, and the remainder, has led to the record stock of bricks at 886 million at the end of December, how can the Minister justify his statement that his housing policy is a roaring success?

Mr. Prentice

Our housing progress has been better than that of hon. Members opposite but still not nearly good enough. Therefore, I would not use the expression "roaring success" and never have. Until every family in the country has a decent home to live in, none of us in national government or local government can afford to be complacent on this subject.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Is the Minister aware that this is a very disappointing answer? Builders all over the country are disappointed. They have been waiting for this. Is he aware that the Prime Minister's statement on 15th December was taken very seriously, not just as a hint? Can it now be translated at least into a lightly given promise?

Mr. Prentice

Since the Prime Minister's statement in December, discussions have been proceeding with the builders, with the building societies and others. When their representatives talk to me and my right hon. Friends, they do not talk in the exaggerated accents of hon. Members opposite.