HC Deb 16 June 1971 vol 819 cc430-1
16. Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that his policies to encourage home ownership are meeting with success; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Amery

There are already encouraging signs, and I am confident that we are moving along the right lines.

Mr. Moate

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, which I am sure we all wholeheartedly endorse. Has he also seen the figures from the Building Societies Association showing that in the first quarter of the year the number of advances was up by 25 per cent. over the last year of the Labour Government? Is this not a tribute to the success of the policy which he is pursuing so vigorously?

Mr. Amery

I thank my hon. Friend for what he said. I would not disagree.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Although the Minister's hon. Friend may be satisfied with that reply, is he aware that no one on this side is at all satisfied with it? Would he take some action in order to look after the position of young married couples who are finding it increasingly difficult to find anywhere to live, largely because of the increase in the cost of housing, which he has done nothing to bring down, and which has risen enormously since the Government have been in power?

Mr. Amery

I am sorry for the implication in that question that the hon. Member regrets the improvement in the housing figures.

Mr. Evelyn King

Does not the increase in home ownership depend largely on the amount of land released upon which to build and the price at which it is available? By what percentage has the amount of land available for building increased since the circular issued on the subject a few months ago?

Mr. Amery

My hon. Friend is, of course, entirely right to say that land is a key to the success of our policies. Local authorities have been making considerable efforts to make more land available. I was up in the Midlands yesterday, and the figures I was given there were very encouraging. I do not have the percentage increase figures with me, but if my hon. Friend would care to put down a question, I will certainly answer it.

Mr. Spearing

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the global totals given by the Building Societies Association for new mortgages and the global sum include a substantial proportion of those moving from one house to another? Would he consider asking the Association in future to divide the figures between those who are moving house and those who are taking up mortgages for the first time?

Mr. Amery

I will examine this with the Department's statisticians. Even moving from one house to another often makes new housing opportunities available for those who are without houses at present.