HC Deb 16 July 1974 vol 877 cc121-2W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy towards housing in the Yorkshire region.

Mr. Kaufman

As elsewhere in the country, our objectives are to contain inflation in rents and mortgage interest rates, to improve the use made of the existing housing stock, and above all to increase the supply of new houses. The measures already taken by the Government to deal with the crisis situation we were faced with on housing should benefit all regions.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement is he giving to local authorities to introduce and extend the building of houses by direct works.

Mr. Kaufman

I am sure that local authorities will recognise the important part which efficient direct labour organisations can play in housing generally. We have removed the ban imposed by the previous administration on the use of such organisations on schemes of building for sale by local authorities. I believe that they should be given the opportunity to play a full part in the expansion of local authority housebuilding programmes which the Government are seeking to achieve.

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from Salford, St. Helens, Wigan and Warrington local authorities to his representations to build more houses to rent.

Mr. Kaufman

I have recently met representatives from these and other local authorities in the region to discuss their housing programmes. I found that the local authorities are anxious to step up their normal building programmes to provide more houses for renting and that they are doing so. A number are also actively considering the acquisition of suitable new unsold houses from developers.