HC Deb 12 April 1972 vol 834 cc1237-8
7. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission a report into the state of the building industry in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

No, Sir.

Mr. Strang

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that building land is now being sold in Edinburgh at over £30,000 an acre? What action will the Government take to stop young couples who want to buy a house putting over £1,000 into the pockets of the land speculators?

Mr. Younger

The increase in house prices causes great concern to many people, but it is necessary not to get the facts wrong. The hon. Gentleman may have noticed that the recent survey by the Nationwide Building Society showed that in the years 1966–71 the increase in house prices in Great Britain as a whole was 52 per cent. whereas in Scotland it was only 34 per cent. We are keeping the matter closely under watch, and we shall help if there is anything we can do.

Sir J. Gilmour

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is an imbalance of the trades within the building trade and that pushing on with the modernisation of houses brings into play the sort of trades not catered for in the industrial type of building that we have now? If we push forward with modernising existing houses we can utilise much more of the building labour available in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

I agree that in order to get a general housing policy which makes sense it is necessary to consider every form of housing at the same time. It is no use thinking that one form of housing alone can solve our problems, and to that extent I warmly agree with my hon. Friend.

Mr. Ross

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the price increases are becoming scandalous in Scotland, not least in his own constituency? Does he think it was the best use of his time to open a group of eight houses costing £20,000 each? Would he not do far better to look into why the price is so high?

Mr. Younger

With respect to the right hon. Gentleman, I will decide what I do in my constituency, and not he. As the right hon. Gentleman should know, the firm that built those houses builds a large number of houses throughout Scotland at very low prices by normal standards. It is selling some at under £5,000 each right now. I have encouraged local authorities to make more land available, which is the best way to bring the price down.

Mr. Douglas

While the hon. Gentleman is right in saying that what he does in his own constituency is for him to decide, does he recognise that his responsibilities in Scottish affairs make it incumbent upon him to bring down the price of houses in Scotland? The rate of increase is astronomical, particularly in Edinburgh. What has been the rate of increase since the Government came to office?

Mr. Younger

I only wish the hon. Gentleman's Government had taken that view when they were in office. They imposed the burden of selective employment tax on the building industry which directly put up house prices. The hon. Gentleman may have noticed, in the new industrial development arrangements which were announced recently, the grant for the purchase of plant and machinery in the building and construction industry, which should be of some help.