§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present level of house building; and what steps are being taken to ensure that both local authority and private house building is stepped up.
§ Mr. FreesonI would refer to the answer given on 23rd June to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner)—[Vol. 913, c. 1577]. The much improved level of new house building in the public sector will continue to be sustained by the strong financial support given under our Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975; as regards the private sector, our mortgage finance stabilisation arrangements, together with other measures, enable builders to meet the needs of prospective homeowners. It is also important to maintain and modernise existing houses and to widen the range of tenures. We have taken a number of measures for these purposes. Further action will be taken in the light of our housing finance review.