HC Deb 20 February 1968 vol 759 cc211-2
28. Mr. Murton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many permanent dwellings were com- pleted by private builders in Great Britain in 1967; and what estimate he has made of the probable number of such completions in 1968.

50. Mr. Graham Page

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to reverse the decline in the number of houses completed in the private sector since October, 1964.

Mr. Greenwood

In 1967 private builders in Great Britain completed 200,438 dwellings. It is too soon to estimate how many they will complete in 1968. Demand will be stimulated by both the mortgage option and mortgage guarantee schemes and the prospects for a rise in completions in 1968 are reasonably good.

Mr. Murton

Does the Minister not recollect that, in 1967, 18,000 fewer houses were built by private enterprise than in 1964 as a result of the Government's austerity measures? How far will the Minister allow this to proceed before some of these appalling restrictions are taken off the private building industry?

Mr. Greenwood

The hon. Gentleman cannot have listened to an answer which I gave him earlier. The really relevant figures at the moment are that starts in the private sector last year were up by 40,000, and the figure for the last quarter of 1967 was 58,000, which was about 6,000 up on the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Starts were up substantially and, presumably, in consequence, completions will follow suit.

Mr. Graham Page

Does the Minister not realise that those who have to live in houses are concerned with completions and not with starts? Is it not a fact that in 1967 there were some 5,000 fewer completions than in 1966, some 13,000 fewer in 1966 than in 1965, and some 14,000 fewer in 1965 than in 1964?

Mr. Greenwood

The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well why there was difficulty in completions of private houses in the early part of last year. Towards the end of the year, completions were rising very sharply and, unless hon. Gentlemen opposite spread too much despondency in the country, the houses started by private enterprise will be completed.

Mr. John Hynd

Will not the Minister concede to the Opposition that we should have fewer starts and more completions?