HC Deb 24 January 1973 vol 849 cc158-9W
52. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what positive incentives he intends to give to local councils to increase their house building programmes.

54. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to arrest the decline in council house building programmes.

Mr. Channon

This Government, unlike the last, place no restrictions on the number of houses a local authority may build. In the Housing Finance Act we have created financial arrangements under which those authorities who need to build can do so without increasing rents or putting intolerable burdens on their ratepayers.

8. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the housing starts and completions in the public and in the private sectors for 1972, and the comparable figures for 1971.

Mr. Channon

The full year's figures will not be available till the end of the

GREAT BRITAIN
Public Sector Private Sector
Starts Completions Starts Completions
1971 125,700 142,200 187,800 170,500
1972 115,700 112,800 210,500 178,800