§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many planned approvals of new council houses in England and Wales for 1968–69 will be withdrawn as a result of cuts in public expenditure; and what will be the proportionate number in the Northern Region.
§ Mr. MacCollApprovals both in 1968 and in 1969 will be 15,000 below the level originally planned for England and Wales. There will be no withdrawal of approvals already given. It is intended to settle by discussion with the main housebuilding authorities, as part of the normal review of forward programmes, what it would be practicable for them to build over the next two or three years in the light of the priorities to be given to slum clearance, to meeting shortages 255W of rented accommodation, particularly in conurbations, and especially to the priority areas, where there are the highest concentrations of these problems. I am not yet able to give figures for any individual authority or region.