HL Deb 10 December 1969 vol 306 cc551-3
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government the reason for the very severe drop over the last twelve months of the contribution by the housing society movement made towards the national housing programme.]

LORD KENNET

My Lords, there appear to be two major reasons, which I would hesitate to arrange in order of importance. One is that the building societies, who are normally expected to advance two-thirds of the costs of such schemes, have been short of funds this year. The other is that at current interest rates housing societies have been finding it more difficult to put forward schemes which would reliably command the required rent income.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Would he advise the House of the number of schemes approved by the Housing Corporation in 1969, or up to date, in comparison with the numbers of schemes approved in 1967–68.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, the figures are: for 1967, 10,532; for 1968, 5,022; for the first 11 months of 1969, 1,509.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I think that the noble Lord's figures probably referred to units. Could he advise the House of what is the present financial commitment of the Housing Corporation to their total schemes in relation to their top borrowing of £75 million?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, the noble Earl's supplementary question is a trifle complicated for immediate answer without warning, and I would ask the lease of the House to write to him later. I of course stand corrected on my answer to his previous supplementary question. I referred to the number of dwellings in all the schemes and not to the number of schemes.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I wonder whether, finally, the noble Lord could advise the House what is the target of the Government for the housing society movement, say in the next five years.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, there is no specific and binding target that I am aware of, but the Government, as always, are grateful to the housing society movement and have done what they can within the country's economic circumstances to help it to achieve the highest possible rate it can.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I must avow an interest before I put a supplementary question. As President of the National Federation of Housing Associations, I am convinced that the voluntary housing movement could be making a far greater contribution to the housing problem of this country than it is at the present time. May I ask the noble Lord when the report of the subcommittee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee, which is looking into this matter, is expected to be received and whether that report will be published?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I am glad to have the noble Earl's declaration of interest, because housing associations are allowed to make a profit, whereas housing societies, in which understand the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, is primarily interested, are not, so he has no interest. In answer to his question the report will be received in about a year.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, will it be published?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I think we should wait to see it, but such reports are normally published.