HC Deb 14 October 1969 vol 788 cc188-9
29. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a further list of local authorities which have recently cut, or propose to cut, their housing programmes; and what steps he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

Mr. Greenwood

As I told my hon. Friend yesterday, I am concerned about these apparent cuts and I am inviting the authorities concerned to discuss their programmes with me.

Mr. Allaun

Will the Minister bring pressure to bear on the guilty councils, particularly by spotlighting significant cuts in such blatant cases as Bradford, Harrow, Ealing, Coventry and Dudley? Secondly, in addition to seeing them, which I appreciate, would he consider taking powers to refuse to allow cuts in special circumstances?

Mr. Greenwood

I cannot hold out any hope of further legislation at the moment. I have noted what my hon. Friend has said. We must all appreciate that the situation in all the areas may not be identically the same, but I can say from the Government's point of view that we have not held back the housing programme of a single priority housing authority.

Mr. John Lee

Will my right hon. Friend re-think his last Answer? Will not the cutting of housing programmes be part of the Conservative Party's election gamesmanship? We ought to provide against it for that as well as for social reasons.

Mr. Greenwood

I am fully in sympathy with what my hon. Friend has said, particularly as under the Tory Government completions averaged only 310,000 a year.

Mr. Graham Page

In view of the Minister's own cut in the overall figure from 500,000 to 400,000, or whatever it may be, does he genuinely want local authorities to increase their housing programmes?

Mr. Greenwood

Every priority authority has had full power to build to the maximum of its capacity and will continue to do so.