HC Deb 11 March 1968 vol 760 cc957-8
26. Mr. Allason

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the proportion of building work likely to be carried out by the public and private sectors, respectively, in 1970.

31. Mr. Eyre

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is his latest estimate of the probable level of private sector building activity in 1970.

Mr. Mellish

It is not yet possible to forecast the level of construction work in 1970, but I expect that about 55 per cent. of the new work will be for the public sector and 45 per cent. for the private sector.

Mr. Allason

But as the Government's housebuilding policy is in complete disarray, would the right hon. Gentleman represent to his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing that he should abolish his doctrinaire one-for-one building policy and allow private enterprise to get on with private house building?

Mr. Mellish

The hon. Gentleman has a capacity for making facts sound absolutely ludicrous. To say that the Government's housing figures are in disarray when we are building more houses and there are more under construction than ever before in Britain's history, and that that makes nonsense of Government policy, is an extraordinary statement.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

But are there as many houses under construction as the party opposite promised?

Mr. Mellish

We have until 1971; the hon. Gentleman wants to be hopeful.