HC Deb 27 October 1971 vol 823 cc1706-8
8. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest official figures of the number of houses built in the public sector this year, and how they compare with 1970.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Paul Channon)

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Allason) on 20th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 118–9.]

Mr. Skinner

But is the hon. Gentleman aware that those figures, when taken over the whole of 1971, will show that they are probably the worst figures for public sector building which we have had since the early 1960s, when we last had a Tory Government? About the only promise that the Government have been able to carry out is the one to which his right hon. Friend referred when he urged local authorities to stop building council houses for all seemingly good purposes. What is more important, does he not realise that the housing White Paper will make the position much worse?

Mr. Channon

The hon. Gentleman has completely misunderstood the purpose of the White Paper, which is to direct help to the areas and people most in need. That is what it will do. When he talks about housing progress I am not surprised that he omits to mention the astonishing record of improvement and slum clearance achieved by the present Government.

Mr. Chapman

In the light of the housing shortage, is not the important thing the total number of houses built this year in the private and public sector? Can my hon. Friend given an estimate of the total number built this year, as opposed to last year?

Mr. Channon

I should be reluctant to give an estimate, but I entirely agree that we inherited from our predecessors a situation of complete decline in the house building programme. It will take some time to correct it, but we are already seeing a very great improvement in private sector starts. We hope to see improvement in the areas of stress in the public sector, which is where it matters.

Mr. Crosland

I am sure that the whole House greatly welcomes the increase in private sector starts, but does the hon. Gentleman agree that, given our total housing situation, one thing which we cannot afford is a continuing decline in council house building? Will he assure the House that under the Government's new housing proposals we can look forward next year and the year after to a substantial increase in total council house building?

Mr. Channon

It is essential that in the public sector there should be substantial council house building in areas of stress. That is the purpose of the White Paper. When the right hon. Gentleman sees the greatly increased help to be given to the areas of stress, I hope that he will welcome it.