HC Deb 20 December 1966 vol 738 cc259-60W
Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will estimate how many house units will have to be built in the United Kingdom between now and 1970 to meet the demand, without people living in dwellings classified as slums; and if he will similarly estimate how many house units will have to be built between 1970 and 1980, 1980 and 1990, and 1990 and 2000;

(2) if he will estimate how many house units will be required to meet the demand by 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000.

Mr. Mellish

The Housing Programme 1965 to 1970 (Cmnd. 2838) estimated that in Great Britain about 1 million houses were needed to replace slums, up to 2 million more to replace old houses not worth improving and about 700,000 to meet shortages; and that a further 180,000 houses would be needed annually to cater for new household formation and to meet losses through demolition. Needs beyond 1970 will depend on factors such as the rates of new household formation and of replacement of old houses, which cannot be forecast with confidence at present.