§ 19. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current levels of housing cost yardsticks with a view to updating them.
§ Mr. EyreI am now considering representations from the local authority associations about changes in the level of housing cost yardstick.
§ Mr. ChapmanI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. It is almost 13 months since housing cost yardsticks were last updated. In view of the increase in construction costs since then, will my hon. Friend look at this matter urgently, as outdated cost yardsticks inhibit good housing design?
§ Mr. EyreI am examining all available information to see whether another increase is necessary. My hon. Friend 1531 will remember that the yardstick was increased by about 8 per cent. as recently as last September.