§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that in Wanstead and Woodford 68 houses were completed in 1946, and that this had fallen to 52 in 1963; whether he will ascertain the reasons for this; and what further help he can give to the Wanstead and Woodford Council to increase their house building.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe building record of the local authority reflects its success in dealing with slum clearance and the other priority categories on which its housing effort has been concentrated. It is misleading to compare figures with two arbitrarily selected years and to ignore private enterprise building. Up to the end of 1963, the total number of new dwellings provided in Wanstead and Woodford since the war was 3,723, of106W which 1,950 were built by private enterprise.
My right hon. Friend has already made it clear that he will give as much encouragement as he can to the building of more accommodation for Londoners.