§ Mr. Walter Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Building Societies' Association about giving loans to house purchasers, in the light of the danger that the easy obtaining of loans will cause demand to outstrip supply of houses, thereby causing prices to rise.
§ Mr. ShoreThe Government have frequent discussions with representatives of the Building Societies Association about the supply of mortgage funds and house prices in the context of regular meetings of the Joint Advisory Committee on Building Society Mortgage Finance. I am confident that the building societies, no less than the Government, want to avoid unnecessary and excessive increases in house prices and to secure an orderly housing market.