HC Deb 18 June 1968 vol 766 cc890-1
16. Mr. Cordle

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to assist local authorities to provide special housing for old people.

18. Mr. Gardner

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what priority is given to accommodation for the elderly in considering current local authority house building allocations.

Mr. MacColl

Housing of old people is one of the priority needs for local authority housebuilding and, as an encouragement, higher costs on houses with special features designed for old people are admissible for subsidy.

Mr. Cordle

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that some of our housing problems could be dealt with by adopting a sensible policy of transferring council tenants to accommodation suited to their needs? Is he satisfied with the present provision of purpose-built flats for the elderly?

Mr. MacColl

The type of house to be built for old people is a matter for the local authority to decide, based on its local knowledge.

Mr. Gardner

Is my hon. Friend aware that some local authority flats built for elderly people provide a relatively cheap way of supplying initial accommodation in that when they are provided with alternative accommodation the elderly release their older houses? Will my hon. Friend ensure that in any representations he makes to local authorities this year he will see that this important area of accommodation is not cut?

Mr. MacColl

Accommodation suitable for old people represents, on average, 28 per cent. of the total public authority provisions; and as the total provision in this sector is going up, the amount of accommodation provided for old people is also going up.

Mr. Graham Page

Is it not a fact that the 28 per cent. average of annual output to which he referred has gone down every year while the Labour Party has been in office? What do the Government intend to do about this problem in the future?

Mr. McColl

The hon. Gentleman is wrong. The figure has remained stable over the years, although the absolute numbers have gone up because our output has been a record one.