HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 cc1009-10
1. Mr. Flannery

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were built to be rented in the public sector in each successive year since 1975.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. David Trippier)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick).

Mr. Flannery

Is it not clear that the Government's continuing attack on public sector housing is resulting in increasing homelessness, which is getting worse and worse, in increasingly long waiting lists for repairs because the public sector does not have the necessary money due to the cuts, and massive unemployment in the building industry? [Hon. Members: "What?"] Yes, there is. Never mind what the Government say. [Interruption.] Instead of referring me to yesterday's answer, the Minister should have answered today's question, but he is afraid to give the answer. Are we to assume that the sustained attack on public sector housing will continue, so that the poor, the sick, the homeless and the old will continue to be endangered under this Government as they have been for so long?

Mr. Trippier

If the hon. Gentleman will check the facts, he will find that there is a massive skills mismatch and a shortage of workers in the construction industry. In the twilight years of the Labour Government—some would call them dark years—there was a 60 per cent. decrease in investment in public sector housing development.

Mr. Flannery

We did not have North sea oil.

Mr. Trippier

I expected that sort of question from the hon. Gentleman. He is concerned only about public sector housing whereas we are concerned about all housing, in which there has been a substantial increase since 1979.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

While sympathising with my hon. Friend the Minister for having to endure that embarrassing outburst, does he agree that the prime reason for homelessness, where it exists, is the Rent Acts which have prevented private landlords from letting their properties profitably? Does he further agree that once the reforms in the law that we have introduced are brought into full effect any shortfall is bound to be remedied?

Mr. Trippier

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Labour Governments concentrated only on the expansion of public sector housing, which resulted in a dramatic decline—to just 8 per cent.—in the private rented sector. We are trying to remedy that with the Housing Act 1988. It is interesting to note that the 8 per cent. for the private rented sector contrasts starkly with a level of 30 per cent. in France and 40 per cent. in Germany.

Mr. Soley

The Minister has just added to his already bad reputation as a Minister who gives misleading information, and creative statistics will not get him out of the trap. There are 1.2 million fewer homes available for rent, of which more than half have gone from the private rented sector and the rest from the public sector. The Minister's recent answer to his hon. Friend showed the catastrophic decline in the public rented sector. What does he intend to do to ensure a decent supply of good quality, low-cost accommodation for rent or sale? Will Torbay council be compensated for the £250,000 wasted on the rigged vote, and will the Government abandon their attempt to get councils such as Torbay to hand over their council housing to the private sector now that that system has fallen flat on its face?

Mr. Trippier

The hon. Gentleman completely missed the point of my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton). There has been a substantial increase in house building—1.8 million since 1979. The hon. Gentleman is well aware that as a result of the 1988 Act we are providing through the Housing Corporation—and through it to housing associations—low-cost homes which will be affordable to people on low wages. As for repairs, on which the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) touched, the dramatic increase in housing improvement grants since the Government came to power—a 60 per cent. increase since 1979—is in stark contrast with the Labour Government's deplorable record.

Mr. David Shaw

Does my hon. Friend agree that the real problem is not how many public sector houses are being built—there is an overall housing boom at present—but how many public sector houses, whether being built or already in existence, are rented by councils? Do not a large number of Labour councils have many empty houses?

Mr. Trippier

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is a considerable number of voids in many authorities controlled by the Labour party. The Audit Commission has said time and again that if empty homes are turned around within three weeks about 20,000 empty properties will be brought back on to the market, which would immediately help the homeless.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The first question has taken more than five minutes. I appeal for short supplementary questions and shorter answers.