§ 14. Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to estimate the effect of present winter conditions on the Scottish house-building programme in 1972; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerWeather conditions so far this winter have generally allowed good progress to be made.
§ Mr. SillarsAs the Minister has just demonstrated that he has a capability for assessing climatic effects on the Scottish house-building programme, is not he even more able to assess the effect of Government policies on Scottish house building? Would he come clean on a long-standing question: will the Tory Government build more or fewer houses than the Labour Government built in Scotland?
§ Mr. YoungerI agree with the hon. Gentleman that I am able to make some calculations about the effects of Government policies on the house-building programme in Scotland. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be as delighted as I am to know that, on the latest figures that I have, starts in January, 1972, are about 55 per cent. up on the starts for January, 1971. That is not a bad beginning to the year.