§ Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what additional assistance has been given to housing in the public sector in Wales since February; and what further encouragement he proposes.
§ Mr. John MorrisAn extra £14 million was made available to housing authorities in Wales last May. Of this, £9 million was allocated to the acquisition of more houses, whether by purchase for private developers or by expansion of existing building programmes.
43WThere has been a significant increase in local authority house building programmes; the number of dwellings in tenders approved by the Welsh Office between 1st January and 30th September was 4,500, compared with 3,320 over the same period last year. The Housing Rents and Subsidies Bill proposes new subsidies which will directly support a strong and expanding housing programme.
I am determined that the impetus shall be maintained. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, who has special responsibility for housing, has visited every housing authority in Wales. A housing conference, similar to one held in Cardiff in July, is planned for North Wales before the end of the year.