HC Deb 10 March 1971 vol 813 cc396-7
22. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for increasing the number of public sector starts of dwellings in Greater London.

Mr. Amery

I have written to all London authorities asking them to keep up a vigorous building programme. I have also sent them an official report showing the needs for this in the interests of London as a whole. We have further held discussions with the authorities concerned about the whole question of London housing. These discussions are continuing.

Mr. Fraser

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the number of housing starts in the public sector in London in the first nine months of 1970 dropped compared with the previous year? That could not have been due to the weather. Local authorities sometimes have the habit of not taking notice of letters. If some of the outer London boroughs fall down on the job, will he enable the G.L.C. to move in on them for the provision of housing or set up a central housing authority for London to step in where others have failed?

Mr. Amery

I have made it clear to the local authorities that direct action on their part, action by housing associations and the release of land for private building are all necessary to achieve the desired result. I do not want to be too optimistic but I have ground for hoping that more local authority dwellings will be put out to tender in London this year than last year.

Mr. Iremonger

Apart from provision for the elderly and the handicapped, would it not be better to cut out public sector housing altogether?

Mr. Amery

No, Sir. My analysis of the problem leads me to the view that we need all the efforts of the public sector, housing associations and private building together.

Mr. Clinton Davis

What response has the right hon. Gentleman had to the request for a vigorous building programme from the London Borough of Hackney, which has indicated a catastrophic drop in the housing programme from the 2,000 houses which were planned to 600? Is this not an indication that that borough proposes to implement the suggestion made by the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger)?

Mr. Amery

The hon. Gentleman refers to a particular borough. Perhaps he would like to put down a question about it.