House Building (Hansard, 21 April 1982)

§ 5. Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the numbers of local authority housing starts and completions.

§ 24. Mr. Winnick
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present level of house building.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Sir George Young)
It is for local authorities to decide how much of their capital resources for housing should be devoted to new building. The provision for local authority gross housing capital expenditure has been increased this year by about one-third above the estimated level of expenditure last year. I hope that authorities will take full advantage of this.

§ Mr. Roberts
As local authority house building programmes in both Conservative and Labour-controlled areas have been almost wiped out this year, does the Minister conclude that the devastation has been largely the result of Government policies? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that those policies are destroying all hope for millions of people on local authority housing lists?

§ Sir George Young
Before the hon. Gentleman complains about underspending on housing, he should examine the performance of the local authority of whose area he represents a part. In the first nine months of last year Cannock Chase authority spent only 36.1 per cent of its HIP allocation plus housing receipts. It has also failed to obtain receipts from sales of council houses. Of 1,825 admitted applications, only 183 sales have been completed. The resources are in the local authority's hands waiting to be spent.

§ Mr. Winnick
Why does the Minister deny that it has been deliberate Government policy to reduce substantially the amount of council house building? The figures that I have from the Library show that public sector house building is at its lowest since 1924. Instead of making references to local councils that have been so hard hit by Tory cuts, why do not the Minister and his team recognise the plight of thousands of people who are desperately waiting to be rehoused and who cannot buy homes of their own? Must the Prime Minister send the Secretary of State on another fact finding tour before he recognises their plight?

§ Sir George Young
The hon. Gentleman is wrong. Public sector starts are well up on the 1981 performance. The latest figures show that they are 40 per cent. higher than a year ago.

§ Mr. Heddle
Does my hon. Friend agree that the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) should stop crying crocodile tears and pleading on behalf of those who wish to have the right to rent? The Labour Party should agree that housing needs can be met——

§ Mr. Winnick
The hon. Gentleman should declare his interest.

§ Mr. Heddle
—not only by building more council houses, but by producing shorthold accommodation, improving homes for sale and encouraging local authorities to build half and half homes for those who wish to rent.

§ Sir George Young
My hon. Friend is right. Many local authorities have been wise enough to seize the many initiatives introduced by the Government. I am sorry that 258 Cannock Chase has not developed schemes, such as low-cost home ownership. The resources of the private sector are also available to tackle the housing needs of this country.

§ Mrs. Ann Taylor
The Minister has informed us that there will be more council house building this year than in 1981. Will he remind the House that last year's figures were the worst since records have been kept and that house building generally in Britain was at its worst level since 1924? Does the Minister accept that part of the problem for local authorities is his Department's inconsistent attitude to spending? One moment it tells local authorities to spend money, and the next moment it imposes new cuts on Cannock Chase and other authorities. That is evidenced by the letter that was sent to local authorities in June 1981 telling them to expect further cuts in their capital expenditure this year. Is not the basic problem that the Government came to office with the declared intention of cutting expenditure on housing by half and that they will not face the consequences of that policy?

§ Sir George Young
The provision for local authority gross housing capital expenditure has been increased this year to about one-third above the estimated expenditure for last year. That in no way relates to what the hon. Lady said. I remind her that the Labour Government left office with the lowest number of starts since 1945.