§ Q9. Dame Irene Wardasked the Prime Minister whether, following his discussions on 17th April at Newcastle-upon-Tyne with the Northern Economic Planning Council, he will give an assurance that the additional support for local authorities for the building of new houses and the provision of money to do so will be forthcoming.
§ The Prime MinisterThis matter was not discussed at my meeting with members of the Northern Economic Planning Board and three members of the Council on 17th April.
§ Dame Irene WardIs the Prime Minister aware that a statement was made by the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Economic Planning Council that this subject was under discussion? Does this not reflect on the Prime Minister's and the Government's view that the Government's housing policy is very satisfactory, for it is not?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sorry the hon. Lady is disappointed about this. It is not my recollection, nor that of others who were present, that this was discussed. As to housing policy, I went straight from this meeting to Gateshead to open its new housing development. The hon. Lady will know that Gateshead—which, just by accident, happens to be a Labour-controlled borough—has by far the best record in the area which she has the honour to represent. With the active help —of not in spite of —Government policy, we have these magnificent records set up by Gateshead Council.
Mr. ConlonDoes my right hon. Friend recall that on his visit to Gateshead last Friday he saw concrete evidence of an outstanding achievement in house building? Did this not prove that the most essential ingredient for house building achievements of this kind is the will by councils to get on with the job?
§ The Prime MinisterI thought that point was made in an entirely uncontroversial speech I made on that occasion, Since there still seems some doubt in the mind of the hon. Lady, she might like to know that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government will shortly be tabling an Order 632 fixing the representative rate of interest for calculating housing subsidies for 1970–71, which will have the effect of increasing the subsidy for dwellings completed in this financial year. The hon. Lady will also know from the Chancellor's Budget Statement that local authorities can now greatly increase borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board which it is estimated will mean an increase in 1970–71 of £238 million for this purpose to £915 million, or an increase of about 35 per cent. I tremble to go back to compare the figures with those when her party was in office.
§ Mr. BagierIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Minister of Housing and Local Government found it necessary to write to Sunderland County Council to ask what it was playing at with its house building programme? The Tory-controlled council was asked why it has reduced its programme from 1,400 to 100— [HoN. MEMBERS: " Shame! "]—and has refused to take the advantage of money being made available for mortgage purposes?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is no doubt correct, but this was not discussed with the Northern Economic Council. As I say, what became very clear this morning is how successful certain councils in that area are in dealing with the help given them by the Labour Government.