HC Deb 16 July 1980 vol 988 cc605-6W
Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the average cost of a new local authority dwelling, including land; (b) the average cost of existing dwellings acquired by local authorities; (c) the average investment per dwelling on improvements; (d) the average improvement grant per dwelling in England and Wales at 1979 survey prices.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1980, c. 520]: I refer the hon. Member to the information in tables 3, 26 and 30 of Housing and Construction Statistics, No. 32 and to supplementary table XVII of Housing and Construction Statistics, No. 31.

The average plot price in table 3 for private sector development may be taken as a convenient measure of the cost of land for public sector housing; the hon. Member may, however, wish to bear in mind that densities in public sector housing are generaly higher than in the private sector. 1979 survey prices were those of November 1978.

Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new dwelling starts were represented by the sum of £1,036 million shown as local authority capital expenditure on new dwellings for 1979–80 in table 2.7 of Cmnd. 7841.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1980, c. 520]: The number of starts by local authorities in 1979–80 is given in Housing and Construction Statistics, March quarter 1980, part 1, a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum number of local authority new housing starts for 1980–81 consistent with allocation of £1,916 million total local authority gross capital expenditure shown at table 2.7 of Cmnd. 7841, on the assumption that the proportionate balance between such expenditure on new dwellings, and on other items of capital expenditure, including improvement, is similar to the allocations for 1979–80 shown in table 2.7.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1980, c. 519–20]: It is not possible to give a meaningful figure. The number of starts will depend on variable factors, other than the assumption specified by the hon. Member, such as payments for dwellings already under construction, movements in prices during the course of the year, and the timing of new contracts.