HC Deb 12 November 1980 vol 992 cc457-60
6. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the increase in the numbers of homeless households as a result of his moratorium on building new council houses.

Mr. Stanley

I do not consider that any such estimate could reliably be made.

Mrs. Short

I suppose that the Minister feels that it would be too damning for the Government's policy to make an estimate. My hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) referred to the increase in the number of families waiting for local authority housing. It is almost 1¼ million. About 8,000 of those are in Wolverhampton, which represents an increase of 1,500—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Will the hon. Lady ask a question, then we shall all feel happier?

Mrs. Short

What response is the Minister making to the AMA's estimate of the shortage of houses in the next five years? [HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] I am not reading. Is the Minister aware that the estimate of expenditure by local authorities for housing homeless families in bed and breakfast and similar accommodation is over £15 million a year? Is it not crazy to spend that money in that way?

Mr. Stanley

One of the most constructive responses that can be made is for local authorities to address themselves to the problem of vacant dwellings. On the latest figures that we have from local authorities, 23,000 local authority dwellings have been vacant for more than one year. Of that number, one third—some 8,000—are dwellings in six Labour authorities—Manchester, Islington, Hackney, Southwark, Lambeth and Camden.

Mr. John Wells

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that those authorities that have curbed their expenditure and are currently engaged on a programme of new building of housing for the elderly only and have contracts in hand will not be affected by the moratorium?

Mr. Stanley

I understand the concern of authorities which, on their estimates, are underspending their allocation, but I am afraid that this afternoon I cannot add to what my right hon. Friend has said to the effect that he will wish to make a statement in due course.

Mr. Dobson

If the Minister cannot make an estimate, does he accept the estimate of the Tory-controlled London Boroughs Association that, if his policies continue for a further five years, they will lead to an increase of almost ½ million in the shortfall of houses in this country?

Mr. Stanley

The hon. Gentleman represents a London constituency. I am sure that he is as concerned as I am about the number of empty local authority dwellings in London.

Mr. Durant

Will my hon. Friend clarify the position concerning the housing association movement? Will he confirm that there is no cut in the total budget this year but only a control of the overspending that was forecast?

Mr. Stanley

My hon. Friend is entirely correct. The allocation made by my right hon. Friend in February of £420 million is entirely unchanged. There is £420 million to spend. Contrary to certain reports, the level of housing association improvements approved in the 12 months to September is the second highest on record.

Mr. Hattersley

May I return to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mr. Dobson), which the Minister did not even attempt to answer? Does the hon. Gentleman accept that a variety of estimates have been made by various local authority bodies about the net shortfall of houses in 1984 and the shortfall between houses available and families needing houses, in part the result of an increase in family formation? Do the Government have a figure about how many houses will be needed by the time this Parliament comes to an end?

Mr. Stanley

As the right hon. Gentleman is aware, when the previous Government made such calculations they described them as being highly speculative. I ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider the range of policies that we have put forward both to increase utilisation of existing stock and to bring forward new accommodation, such as shorthold. I am afraid that the right hon. Gentleman is not helping by his commitment to repeal the shorthold legislation.

Mr. Hattersley

Do the Government have a figure on what the net shortage will be when this Parliament comes to an end?

Mr. Stanley

As my right hon. Friend has said on many occasions, we regard such an exercise as fairly speculative.