§ 23. Mr. Laneasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the effect on house building programme funds of the money to be made available for implementation of proposals contained in the Housing Bill.
§ Mr. MacCollThe Government intend that within a total of public investment in housing at about the level it has now reached, a greater share should go to house improvement. The balance between new building and improvement from year to year will take account of assessments of needs and of the progress made in developing action under the legislative proposals now before the House.
§ Mr. LaneCould the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the latest estimate of the number by which housing starts this year will fall short of the level of last year?
§ Mr. MacCollI do not expect that the programme this year will be below last year's.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunWill the Minister note that those Labour M.P.s who for long have advocated the improvement of old houses are completely opposed to a reduction in the building of new houses, because we need both?
§ Mr. MacCollI quite agree that we need both. The exact amount we can budget for depends on the general state of the economy, of which this is an integral part.