HC Deb 13 April 1972 vol 834 cc225-6W
50. Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he

minority of the totals listed, the conditions referred to in the Question.

is satisfied with the trend in the supply of houses for sale and with the rate of bringing forward of new building land in their effect on house prices; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Amery

The supply of new private dwellings is rising fast. Home ownership continues to go up and first-time mortgagors become more numerous. We welcome the present strength of demand and have taken a number of steps to ensure that enough land is made available everywhere to keep up with the rising volume of building.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report, nationally and region by region, the average increase in the cost of private houses in the first three months of this year and the same period of the preceding two years.

Mr. Eyre

Reliable information on private house prices is not available in the form requested. The information collected by the Department on quarterly average national prices of dwellings mortgaged with building societies, and on annual average prices of three-bedroom semi-detached houses sold in England and Wales, by regions has been published regularly in Housing Statistics. The figures for the first quarter of this year are not yet available.