§ 10. Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new local authority homes were completed in Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsProvisional figures for the 12-month period to July 1984 show that 1,825 local authority dwellings were completed.
§ Dr. MarekIs the Minister aware that that record is the worst housing record for the past 50 or 60 years and that an intolerable burden has been placed on people in the Principality—who want adequate housing—with rising waiting lists and increasing homelessness? Is it the people in Wales who are seeking a living and a just society, with adequate reward, who are the enemy within, or, if there is an enemy within, is it not the Cabinet, of which the Secretary of State for Wales is a member?
§ Mr. RobertsThat is an incredible series of non sequiturs. Let me assure the hon. Gentleman that we have 426 not sought to establish a record in house building in Wales. He will, of course, be aware that both the Government and local authorities place the emphasis on rehabilitation of older dwellings, which is quite right, because the 1981 survey showed that about 12 per cent. of private sector stock was unfit, compared to 1 per cent. of public sector stock.