§ 19. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an undertaking that there will be no further reduction in the 500,000 a year housing target because of increased activity in improving old houses.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe Government's policy of allotting a greater share of public investment in housing to improvement of older houses was set out in the White Paper "Old Houses into New Homes". I expect new housebuilding to continue at a very high level into the 1970s.
§ Mr. AllaunThat is not very definite. Does my right hon. Friend agree that housing need is so great that we need 500,000 new houses and 200,000 improvements a year, and would it not be unacceptable to do one at the expense of the other?
§ Mr. GreenwoodOur overall policy was laid down in the White Paper. Local authorities must have some flexibility in the way in which they determine priorities of expenditure. The need for new housing is very great; the need for improvement of old houses is also great. My 261 general aim is to make the greatest contribution each year to the solution of the housing problem which our economic situation permits.
§ Mr. RipponWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear to his hon. Friend that the figure of 500,000 was not a target, that it was a pledge, not a lightly given promise, according to the Prime Minister, to build 500,000 houses a year in 1970, no matter what circumstances might arise, that it was a pledge reaffirmed in the House in 1966 and that it has since been abandoned? Will he explain to his hon. Friend that no one would take any notice of a pledge, much less a lightly given promise, on this subject given by Her Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. GreenwoodThis must be the seventh or eighth time that the right hon. and learned Gentleman has made this point. The whole House knows the reasons, following devaluation, why the target of 500,000 had to be abandoned. The fact remains that we have built substantially more houses than right hon. Gentlemen opposite ever built.