HC Deb 12 May 1970 vol 801 cc1048-9
18. Christopher Ward

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the value at constant prices of house-building output in each of the past three years; and what estimate he has made of the likely value of house-building output in 1970.

Mr. John Silkin

In 1969, output of private contractors was £968 million valued at 1963 prices, in 1968, £1,088 million and in 1967 £1,044 million. The total value of work done is likely to be less than in 1969 but a rise in the level of activity will follow the rise in completions in the private sector which has already started. This rising trend is expected to persist in 1971.

Mr. Ward

How can the Minister remain so complacent while the building industry crumbles away in his hands, with record brick stocks, record unemployment and the housing programme falling off? Will he recommend his right hon. Friends to abolish the S.E.T. and betterment levy and give priority to loans for house-builders and let them get on with the job?

Mr. Silkin

The hon. Gentleman is out of date as regards lending. He must reread the speech of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. If he thinks that I am complacent about the house-building situation, what must he think of his own Government, which built only four-fifths of the number of houses we have built, and spent £40 less for every £100 we are spending on roads, hospitals and schools?

Mr. Ashton

If we are talking about the value of the output, would my right hon. Friend lend one of his staff to work out what a value-added tax would mean for output, to help the Opposition cost their proposals for a value-added tax on houses?

Mr. Silkin

The effect of a value-added tax would be not to crumble the building industry but to blow it up.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Having made his boasts about his house-building achievements, which will deceive nobody, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us when he expects the level of private house-building to rise to the levels attained in 1964?

Mr. Silkin

The measures already announced are beginning to take their effect on house-building. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that these measures take a certain amount of time to carry through. Nevertheless, the situation is still infinitely better than it was during the period of the last Government.

Mr. Eadie

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Scotland in two years more private houses were built under the present Government than in any similar period for over 30 years?