HC Deb 02 March 1983 vol 38 cc226-7
2. Mr. Carmichael

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public sector houses were built and how many improved in 1978 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Allan Stewart)

Reported public sector completions in 1978 were 11,316 and 8,915 in 1981. The numbers of dwellings for improvement in tenders accepted were 46,217 during 1978 and 27,858 in 1981.

Mr. Carmichael

Are these not depressing figures in the light of question 1 and the current unemployment, especially when we consider the state of the building industry, which is really on its knees? I accept that not all new jobs can come from public expenditure, but do the Government not realise that the building industry is screaming out for some form of public expenditure? Does the Minister appreciate that that would be a way of starting to provide the people of Scotland with decent houses and of getting the industry into good shape?

Mr. Stewart

For 1982 I expect tenders accepted for improvements in the public sector to increase by 50 per cent. over the 1981 figures. In the private sector, I expect the number of grants to increase by 34 per cent. over the 1981 figures. That shows the priority that the Government attach to improvements. The construction industry is benefiting considerably from the continuing upsurge in private sector house building.

Mr. Ancram

Does my hon. Friend agree that the many empty houses in the public sector in Scotland represent an enormous waste of available housing resources? Will he continue to encourage the programme of renovation and other schemes, such as homesteading, as the most efficient and quickest way of making an impact on Scottish housing waiting lists?

Mr. Stewart

My hon. Friend is right. The figures show that more than 20,000 public sector houses in Scotland have been empty for more than three months. That is the equivalent of a town the size of Kilmarnock or Clydebank.

Mr. Dewar

Does the Minister accept that, despite all the special pleading, there will be a continuing decline in the public sector building programme up to 1985–86 as announced in the public expenditure White Paper? Does he further accept that, in real terms, as opposed to cash terms, which reflect a 9 per cent. decline, there will be a further decline of over 20 per cent? Is it not time that he did something to reverse that trend rather than continue with the dishonest and irrelevant nonsense to which he referred during the previous Scottish Question Time, when he made the remarkable statement that the sale of council houses had no effect on the prospects of those seeking houses or transfers?

Mr. Corrie

That is true.

Mr. Stewart

What I said previously was absolutely true. Since 1970, 62.5 per cent. of Scotland's public sector housing stock has been improved or built. That shows the changing role of the public sector in Scottish housing.