HC Deb 28 July 1971 vol 822 cc552-4
7. Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of his White Paper, "A Fair Deal for Housing", he will reconsider his refusal to have a target figure for housebuilding.

Mr. Amery

No, Sir.

Mr. Carter

That is a disappointing reply. Bearing in mind the title of his Department, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the best contribution that could be made to the environment of any family or individual is a decent home? Does he appreciate that none of the wretched measures that the Conservatives have so far introduced in housing has added one new unit of accommodation to the existing total? Does he not agree, therefore, that he should reconsider his answer.

Mr. Amery

If the hon. Gentleman will consult his right hon. Friends who had responsibility for housing in the Labour Government and who set targets and failed to meet them, he will understand that targeting is not the best way to approach this problem. From the point of view of having a national overall target, while there are certain areas of acute stress where targeting might have a rôle to play, I would personally hesitate to adopt targeting as a policy.

Mr. Denis Howell

As the right hon. Gentleman has accepted a target in relation to costs and is requesting everybody to keep price increases down to 5 per cent., may I ask him to say whether rents will be exempted from that national target?

Mr. Amery

Our proposals about rents have been announced in the White Paper.

Mr. McCrindle

Would my right hon Friend agree that, as achievements are far more important than targets, no matter how badly this Government may do they are bound to do better than the Labour Government?

Mr. Amery

I think my hon. Friend will be able to give us even better commendation at the end of the day.

21. Mr. Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of houses started in the private sector to the latest date in 1971 for which figures are available; and what relation this bears to the number of starts in the corresponding period of 1970.

Mr. Amery

In Great Britain 73,700 houses were started in the private sector up to the end of May, 1971, as against 60,000 in the corresponding period in 1970, an increase of 23 per cent.

Mr. Fowler

I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Will he confirm that private starts have been greater in every month this year than they were in the equivalent month last year, and does not this show the success of the Government's policy of encouraging home ownership?

Mr. Amery

Yes, Sir; I think we can claim that our policy will restore confidence in the private sector.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Is it not true that unless a breadwinner has an income of over £30 a week he cannot get a mortgage? Will the Minister, therefore, halt the decline in the number of council houses being built, because council houses are what the majority of the population require, since they cannot afford to buy their own houses, however desirable that may be?

Mr. Amery

The majority of the population are already owner-occupiers. I have the hon. Gentleman's point very much in mind. The problem varies from area to area. We shall encourage public sector building, especially under our new reforms, where there is a need for slum clearance or where there is stress. We shall also encourage owner-occupation.

Mr. Fry

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that, although the private sector figures are very encouraging, some local authorities have held up contracts in the public sector and have even put them out for re-tender, and that this is causing disquiet to certain suppliers to the building industry?

Mr. Amery

It has caused some anxiety to me, but it was the inevitable consequence of the decision to reform the basis of housing finance. Until our White Paper proposals were announced, a number of local authorities held back. Those particularly concerned with a big slum problem or with overcrowding will now move forward faster than ever before.

Mr. Freeson

Will the Minister give the figures for the first three months of this year and the first three months of last year of public sector starts? He has been asked this question on several previous occasions and has so far failed to give an answer. Will he do so now?

Mr. Amery

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question, of course I will answer it.