HC Deb 16 December 1969 vol 793 cc1119-21
32. Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern- ment how many houses were under construction at the end of the last month for which figures are available; and what he estimates this figure will be at the end of 1969.

Mr. Freeson

455,000 dwellings were under construction in Great Britain at the end of October. The usual seasonal reduction would produce a figure between 435,000 and 440,000 at the end of the year.

Mr. Griffiths

Why has there been such a disheartening fall in the number of houses under construction and, in particular, why has so much of the fall-off been concentrated in the private sector? What has happened to the Prime Minister's pledge to build 500,000 houses each year?

Mr. Freeson

A good deal of the trouble in the public sector is due to local authorities deliberately cutting back on their housing programmes. In the private sector, and generally across the board, there has been a difficult financial situation. However, I make the point quite clearly that the figure for this year is better than any figure in any year of the previous Administration's rule.

Mr. John Fraser

Would my hon. Friend agree that in the conurbations what matters is decent habitable houses, whether new or converted? Would he publish with his statistics the statistics of houses being converted and new units provided under the Government's new scheme, as well as the traditional figures for construction and completions?

Mr. Freeson

My hon. Friend has picked on a very useful point. We are examining how we may show, in addition to the construction figures, the number of dwellings which are additional to stock as a result of conversion, as well as those dwellings which are improved without being converted.

Mr. Peter Walker

As the hon. Gentleman's colleagues said a few moments ago that improvements should be in addition to houses built, will the hon. Gentleman now confirm that next year's completion figures will be 140,000 fewer than the promise made by the Labour Party at the last election?

Mr. Freeson

The hon. Gentleman muddles the facts about housing. He must read the documents of policy which the Government have published about turning old houses into new homes instead of tramping—

Sir Knox Cunningham

Just answer the question.

Mr. Freeson

I can see that the answer is not taken very easily—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] What well-mannered gentlemen hon. Members opposite are!—[Interruption.] If they would keep their mouths quiet for a moment—[Interruption.] If—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Minister must answer.

Mr. Freeson

If hon. Members opposite would just keep quiet, they would get the answer, which they may not like. It is that they should do what the Government are seeking to do, which is to go round the country urging local authorities to undertake improvement area projects in addition to, and not in place of, housing programmes. What the hon. Gentleman is doing, on the contrary, is deliberately setting out to discourage Conservative councils from building houses.