§ 7. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total number of people lacking adequate housing accommodation.
§ Mr. CroslandThe best information available, derived from the 1971 national house condition survey, is that there were then 2.9 million out of 17.1 million dwellings in England and Wales lacking one or more basic amenities. Further more detailed information will come forward as a result of the current review of housing finance and the 1976 house condition survey.
§ Mr. BeithDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that if this problem is to be tackled with urgency in the present economic situation, greater emphasis and resources must be placed on the rehabilitation of derelict property? Does he further agree that amongst the homeless the development of squatting, which we may regret, is none the less related to the amount of empty, unrehabilitated and, 1344 in some cases, sound property in the hands of local authorities, Government Departments and nationalised industries?
§ Mr. CroslandI think that the better use of the existing housing stock—after all, whatever the level of new house building, it can add only a small amount each year to the total housing stock—should have a higher priority than it has been given by successive Governments. As far as I am concerned, this is easily now the top priority for housing policy.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesWe all want to build more houses, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the concern in some rural areas about the density of buildings in the proposals which are being put forward? Will he examine again the yardstick which the Department requires of local authorities in this matter?
§ Mr. CroslandI shall certainly examine the yardstick, although it is now true that, generally, it is not a constraint on local authority house building. On the first point, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will write to me, I shall certainly send him an answer.