§ 46. Mr. James Hillasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of housing starts, both actual and seasonally adjusted for the three months October to December, 1970, inclusive; and what were the comparable figures for the previous three months.
§ Mr. AmeryStarts in Great Britain in the fourth quarter of 1970 were 77,600 compared with 88,100 in the third quarter. The seasonally adjusted figures were 83,300 and 85,100 respectively.
§ Mr. HillI thank my right hon. Friend for giving me those figures. His reply highlights the importance which we must give to this problem, and I hope that the Francis Report will go at least some way towards solving it.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunDoes the right hon. Gentleman admit that, quite apart from the Government's ideological dislike for council housing, there is bound to be a further reduction in the number of council houses started when, as has already been announced, he reduces the subsidy?
§ Mr. Amery
The present system has led to the existence of a cosseted and privileged class in our society—the council house tenant. These people are jealous of their privileged position—because a council house is a prize hard to come by. … Charge the rich man £1,000 a year rent—that'll sort the problem out".
§ Mr. BoydenOn a point of order. Is it not entirely out of order to make quotations at Question Time?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have not yet heard anything which is out of order from the Minister.
§ Mr. AmeryThe right hon. Gentleman's remarks were made in an interview given to the People on 6th February, 1966. Of course I would not dream of going so far myself. I entirely disagree with what the right hon. Gentleman said, but perhaps it helps to answer the point of the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).
§ Mr. John FraserIs it not the case that the reduction in housing starts has occurred largely in the local authority sector? On Monday the Minister went to my constituency. Will he also go to boroughs like Croydon where a woman has to live in a car because of the cutback in council housing and make sure—[Laughter.] This is not funny: some people live in cars. Will the Minister go to Croydon and other boroughs like it, including Bexley, which is as badly run as the Government, and ensure that local authorities get back to a reasonable level of council house starts to solve the problem? Will he make sure that his fellow Tories in the local authorities get on with the job which they were elected to do?
§ Mr. AmeryI am well aware of the situation which the hon. Gentleman has described. It is part of the ghastly heritage we have received from the Labour Government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have asked the London boroughs to build more council houses. I have asked them to release more land to build houses for sale. I am also asking them to set up more housing advisory centres to help sort out people's problems.