§ 33. Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses will have been improved in 1971–72 as a result of the increased improvement grants; and how this compares with the number of houses improved in 1969–70 and 1970–71.
§ 34. Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many 458 private houses will have been improved in 1971–72 as a result of the increased improvement grants; and how this compares with the number of houses improved in 1969–70 and 1970–71.
§ Mr. Channonrose—
§ Mr. ChannonApplications for the improvement of 35,000 local authority dwellings in England and Wales were approved in the first seven months of 1971. This compares with 49,000 in the whole of the year 1970–71 and 29,000 in 1969–70. The corresponding figures for privately-owned houses are 81,000, 116,000 and 83,000.
§ Mr. FinsbergI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. May I make it clear that someone with 22 years' experience in local government does not need to listen to silly jibes by hon. Members opposite? Will my hon. Friend ensure that local authorities are forced to put a proportion of this work out to private contract and do not do it all by direct labour?
§ Mr. ChannonI will certainly note what my hon. Friend says. I have not had any evidence that this is a substantial problem.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortWhile one accepts that it is of course very important to preserve our old stock of houses, would not the hon. Gentleman agree that the major problem is to build enough houses for rent? Will he now have a shot at answering the question which my right hon. Friend the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Crosland) put to the Minister for Housing and Construction, which the right hon. Gentleman ducked and refused to answer?
§ Mr. ChannonIt is important that we should not only improve houses but that we should have an adequate amount of houses for both rent and sale.