§ 23. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the number of homes completed in the 12 months to the latest available dates in the public and private sectors, respectively, and the comparative numbers in the same period before December 1979; and what steps he is taking to improve the number.
§ Sir George YoungIn the 12 months ending October 1982, 102,000 private sector dwellings were completed in England, compared with 113,000 dwellings in the 12 months ending October 1979. Corresponding figures for public sector completions were 44,000 and 90,000 respectively.
The private house building industry is benefiting from the Government's achievements in reducing the rate of inflation and in widening the opportunities for home ownership: mortgage interest rates are now at their lowest level for over four years.
In the public sector, gross provision for housing investment in 1983–84 is £3,244 million, which will allow for an increase of over 10 per cent. above the current forecast outturn this year. I hope that authorities will take full advantage of this.
§ Mr. AllaunIs it not hypocrisy for the Government to tell councils now to build more houses when for the past three years the Government have cut council house building to the lowest level in history?
§ Sir George YoungBefore speaking about hypocrisy the hon. Gentleman might do well to look at the performance of his local authority in Salford. It has been allocated more than £28 million this year in HIP allocations and in the first six months has apparently spent less than £7 million. I very much hope that his local authority will use the resources that have been made available to it.
§ Sir Albert CostainDoes my hon. Friend agree that private house building will be aided by the constructive way in which derelict land relief is given for housing purposes?
§ Sir George YoungI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his support. Our derelict land policy has already been adequately discussed, but all hon. Members will be glad to know that a great deal of derelict land is now being put to constructive use.
§ Mr. WinnickIs the Minister aware that his answer about public sector starts destroys the lie that there is no difference between the Labour Government and this Government when it comes to housing construction? Is the hon. Gentleman further aware that many of those on the waiting lists find it increasingly difficult to get rehoused and that the Government's policies are deliberately causing untold housing misery?
§ Sir George YoungThe downward trend in public sector starts began long before the Conservative Party took office. We have now successfully arrested that trend, and after six or seven years of progressive decline the figures are beginning to increase once more.
§ Sir Derek Walker-SmithWhat proportion of houses in the private sector are built in accordance with the requirements of the National House Building Council?
§ Sir George YoungWithout adequate notice, I cannot give an answer.