HC Deb 03 February 1970 vol 795 cc198-9
15. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much public expenditure was incurred on local authority housebuilding in England in 1969; how this figure compares with 1964; and how much of this extra expenditure was due to 1969 standards being superior to those of 1964.

Mr. Freeson

The figures requested for 1969 are not yet available.

In the financial year 1968–69, local authority capital expenditure in housing in England and Wales is estimated at about £665 million, compared with £430 million in 1964–65; an increase in total expenditure of about 54 per cent. Of this, it is estimated that the increase in cost due to improvement in standards between 1964 and 1968 was about 8 per cent.

Mr. Boyden

Although the figures are not available, would they not be likely to show that although 1969 was a disappointing year, the total national housing achievement under Labour has been infinitely superior to that of any year under the Tories?

Mr. Freeson

I believe that my hon. Friend has made a very fair factual point—[Interruption.]—which is not sufficiently brought out in housing debates. Under the Tories there was a high target, by their standards of achievement—the target was 300,000 or more—but that was at the expense of standards, as anybody who was in local government at that time will recall. Under Labour, on the other hand, the increase in the production of houses has been married with increasing quality.

Mr. Emery

As the Minister knows, most people will not accept that statement. Can he say how much of this increase in price has been due to S.E.T., the increase in S.E.T., the extra charges which the Government have put on the industry by import surcharges and by the higher cost of money?

Mr. Freeson

I should need notice of those questions to give a precise answer. Broadly speaking, however, the answer is "About 3½ per cent.". I would not accept the hon. Gentleman's rejection of the fact which I put. I happened to be concerned with housing in local government at the time of the famous 300,000 target—

Mr. Emery

So was I.

Mr. Freeson

—and I recall the strong pressure that was put on local authorities to reduce their standards.