HC Deb 13 February 1973 vol 850 cc313-4W
Sir H. Harrison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total number of council houses sold in East Suffolk during 1972; and what was the percentage improvement of this figure on the yearly totals since 1968;

(2) how many council houses were sold in East Suffolk during the fourth quarter of 1972.

Mr. Chanson

Local authorities in East Suffolk reported selling 130 dwellings during 1972. This showed an increase of 519 per cent. compared with 1971, 420 per cent. compared with 1970 and 1,200 per cent. compared with both 1969 and 1968.

Sir H. Harrison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that sufficient land in East Suffolk has been released for house building during 1972; and what further proposals he is going to make to facilitate the supply of such land in 1973.

Mr. Channon

Consultations undertaken by officers of my Department with East Suffolk County Council, and with the representatives of the builders, suggest that adequate supplies of land for house building were made available in 1972 and that no special action is needed here in 1973.

Sir H. Harrison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates the demand for new homes in East Suffolk during the next five years to be; and what plans he has to ensure there is a plentiful supply to meet the demand.

Mr. Channon

The trend of new house building in East Suffolk, like the national trend, is upwards; the number of private starts has risen from 2,011 in 1970 to 2,970 in 1972, an increase of 43 per cent.

In the public sector it is of course the responsibility of the local housing authorities to decide what further provision of houses is required in the light of their assessments of local housing needs. I place no financial obstacle in their way. New houses for owner-occupation are provided mainly by private builders in accordance with their assessment of demand in the area.

I understand that no great problems of land availability have emerged from the consultations my Department has had with the local authorities.