§ 2. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total of housing starts by Welsh local authorities, by housing associations in Wales and for each Welsh housing authority in the latest quarter.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Wyn Roberts)In the quarter ending 30 September 1981, 210 local authority dwellings and 260 housing association dwellings were started in Wales. The distribution by districts will be circulated in the Official Report.
§ Mr. AndersonWill the Minister confirm that those figures represent an all-time low, at least in post-war Britain? Does the Welsh Office make any serious attempt to ascertain housing needs in Wales? Is it aware of the misery caused to many families by mounting waiting lists and that, because of high unemployment, many of those who might have expected to buy in the private sector cannot, and have to fall back on the public sector? What will the Welsh Office do to solve the problem?
§ Mr. RobertsIf I were the hon. Gentleman, I should be wary of putting too much blame on the Government. Housing starts have been falling for several years and were more than halved during the last Administration's period of office. The rate of reduction has been greater than that of housing allocations. This year there is likely to be an underspend by the housing authorities, and we have increased housing allocations for next year.
§ Mr. HoosonWill my hon. Friend remind the House about the increase that was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State towards the end of last year?
§ Mr. RobertsNext year, spending by local authorities will rise from £97.8 million to £115.6 million. The allocation to the Housing Corporation for next year will be increased from £30.4 million to £39 million.
§ Mr. Alec JonesDoes the Minister appreciate that he has succeeded in wrapping up in parliamentary jargon the fact that local authority housing starts in Wales are now running at about 1,000 a year, which is the lowest figure since the war? Surely that cannot give satisfaction to anyone who claims or pretends to be concerned about the 25,000 people on council house waiting lists in Wales.
§ Mr. RobertsI accept that the level of starts is disappointing. However, that cannot be blamed entirely on the Government, because there is likely to be an underspend of about £20 million this year.
§ Following is the information:
| Welsh Housing Starts—3rd Quarter 1981 | ||
| Local Authorities | Housing Associations | |
| Aberconwy | — | — |
| Afan | — | 8 |
| Alyn and Deeside | 4 | — |
| Arfon | — | — |
| Blaeneau Gwent | — | — |
| Brecknock | — | 27 |
| Cardiff | 16 | 46 |
| Carmarthen | 12 | — |
| Ceredigion | — | 3 |
| Colwyn | — | — |
| Local Authorities | Housing Associations | |
| Cynon Valley | — | 37 |
| Delyn | — | — |
| Dinefwr | — | — |
| Dwyfor | — | — |
| Glyndwr | 24 | — |
| Islwyn | — | 49 |
| Llanelli | — | — |
| Lliw Valley | — | — |
| Merionnydd | — | — |
| Merthyr Tydfil | — | 41 |
| Monmouth | — | — |
| Montgomery | — | — |
| Neath | 34 | — |
| Newport | — | — |
| Ogwr | 34 | 49 |
| Preseli | — | — |
| Radnor | — | — |
| Rhondda | — | — |
| Rhuddlan | 37 | — |
| Rhymney Valley | — | — |
| South Pembs | — | — |
| Swansea | 27 | — |
| Taff Ely | — | — |
| Torfaen | 9 | — |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 13 | — |
| Wrexham Maelor | — | — |
| Ynys Mon | — | — |
| Wales Total | 210 | 260 |