§ 12. Mr. Rossiasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the effect of the recent measures proposed by the Government on 22nd November on the cost of house building.
§ 13. Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the increase in house building costs resulting from the financial measures of November 1968.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe measures announced on 22nd November 1968 are likely to add about a quarter of 1 per cent. to the cost of housing construction.
§ Mr. RossiIs the Minister not aware that this adds approximately £5 to the cost of each house and the building industry depends a great deal—probably more than any other industry—on road transport for its materials? When will he begin to show some concern about the Measures of this Government which, one after the other, add cost to the housing of the people?
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe first priority is to get the economy of the country right.
§ Mr. AllasonWhat representations has the Minister made to the President of the Board of Trade on the exclusion from the import deposits scheme of essential imported materials such as semi-processed wood?
§ Mr. GreenwoodIt is not for me to tell the hon. Member what discussions I have had with the President of the Board of Trade, but timber raises important problems because raw and sawn timber are exempt and only in the case of planed timber does the deposit apply.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerIn view of the fact that in 1964 and 1966 the main plank in the Labour Party's platform was to cut the cost of housing, is the right hon. Gentleman pleased or disappointed with the Government's performance?
§ Mr. GreenwoodNo one welcomes increases in prices of housing, and I welcome co-operation by right hon. Gentlemen opposite in our endeavours to keep them down. The important thing is the number of houses that have been built and the very generous subsidies given by this Government, which are about four times those given by the Government of hon. Members opposite.