HC Deb 14 March 1973 vol 852 cc1288-9
25. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost of three- and four-apartment houses in 1970, 1971, and 1972 and until the latest available date.

Mr. Younger

The average costs of providing local authority houses of three-and four-apartments were, respectively, in 1970 £4,485 and £4,785, in 1971 £4,793 and £5,186, and in 1972—provisionally—£5,162 and £5,650.

Figures for private houses of particular sizes are not available.

Mr. Hamilton

Will the Under-Secretary now come clean, for a change, and agree that the exorbitant price of land is one of the criteria in the high cost of housing in Scotland and recognise that, because of unemployment and low wages in Scotland, in the private sector young people find it increasingly difficult to get the necessary mortgage? What do the Government intend to do about it?

Mr. Younger

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about rising house prices, which worry many people greatly apart from myself. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's statements of fact. The fact is that the proportion of the price of a new house which is represented by land has not significantly altered as a percentage of the whole in Scotland. Although last year the increase in house prices over the previous year was about 15.3 per cent., over the same period wages rose on average by 17.3 per cent.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Can my right hon. Friend now tell the House what is the cost to ratepayers in Scotland of houses built in the wrong places in response to the urgings of right hon. and hon. Members opposite during their tenure of office and which have stood emtpy ever since?

Mr. Younger

I regret that without notice I cannot tell my hon. Friend the cost. I share my hon. Friend's concern about it. It emphasises that what is needed today more than anything else in Scotland's house building programme is more houses built in the right places, where they are needed. The new system which we have introduced encourages local authorities to do exactly that. They will get every possible help from me.