HL Deb 11 February 1975 vol 356 cc1210-2

3.5 p.m.

Lord HYLTON

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 what steps are being taken to increase the national output by all agencies of new and modernised houses, in view of the increasing shortage of work and unemployment in the building industry, the fall in land prices and the recent decreases in interest rates.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)

My Lords, new housebuilding was declining very rapidly when the Government took office last March. Since then, we have taken a number of measures to secure a revival in provision by all agencies. The latest figures for new building by public authorities show a major increase, and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has recently announced a number of measures to promote private sector housebuilding. We are now taking steps, under the powers of the Housing Act 1974 to promote the rehabilitation of existing dwellings, especially in the worst areas of housing stress.

Lord HYLTON

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for that Answer, but may I ask whether she is aware of the concern in the country at the rising tide of homelessness, both of families and of single people? Will she impress on her right honourable friend the Minister of Housing the urgency of pulling out all the stops so that we get more houses built quickly?

Baroness BIRK

Yes, my Lords, we are fully aware of this position. It is for that reason that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State made his announcement on 27th January regarding the stabilisation of mortgage rates, to try to help improve housebuilding in that way. This is why we have increased the expenditure on housing in the public sector, and my right honourable friend is at the moment considering the use of housing for shortterm tenancies for the homeless. I can assure the noble Lord that this and many other measures are under urgent consideration. The Government are in no doubt about the urgency of the situation.

Lord AVEBURY

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware of the proposals made by Shelter and also by Mr. Bernard Gray and Mr. Christopher Booker, that a housing agency should be formed to take over short-life properties and let them on behalf of the local authorities? Is the noble Baroness aware that those proposals have been discussed by Shelter with Mr. Freeson, and that although the Government may not agree that they should be implemented precisely in the form suggested by Shelter there is something in the idea worth pursuing, in view of the fact that vast acres of empty property are to be found in all our major cities?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, the Government are aware of this problem. As the noble Lord said, my right honourable friend has been in consultation with Shelter and other organisations and this matter is currently under urgent consideration.

Lord HAWKE

My Lords, will the Government do their best to get the price of money down, because therein lies the key to the take-off of the existing unsold stocks of houses?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, that is a wide-ranging question and different from that on the Order Paper.

Lord POPPLEWELL

My Lords, is my noble friend able to give us a definite assurance that any of the housing agencies that are so employed on behalf of councils will ensure that there is good workmanship, and that no cheese-paring or reduction of costs will be allowed to lower the standards of these types of houses? Further, is my noble friend aware that this experiment has been tried from time to time, and that it has proved very costly later for local authorities to put these properties into a decent state of repair and habitation?

Baroness BIRK

Yes, my Lords, my noble friend is right to draw attention to this matter. The Government are aware of the necessity for such control and the housing programme is based on the need to maintain standards, to increase the production of houses and to do all they can to bring a sense of urgency into the whole situation.

Lord STRATHCLYDE

My Lords, would the noble Baroness say what is the present cost of the average council house?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, I must have notice of that question. It depends, of course, on the local authority, where it is and a number of other factors which I do not have at my fingertips.

Lord SLATER

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it would be wrong for Her Majesty's Government to take away the right to make contracts for building council houses, even for these poor people who are deprived of a home? If such contracts were not made by a local authority, might Her Majesty's Government step in and take away its rights and powers as a building authority?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, later this afternoon we are having a discussion on the Bill which deals with this very point.