HC Deb 05 February 1969 vol 777 cc86-7W
48. Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will now take to encourage the private sector of the building industry in Scotland.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

The option mortgage and guarantee schemes are helping those of moderate means to buy houses; and we are continuing, in consultation with the private sector, to do what we can to remove hindrances to private house-building. I am glad to say that in 1968 8,720 private houses were completed, which is over 1,200 more than in 1967; and that 9,918 were started, which was an increase of some 1,600.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were completed in Scotland in 1968; how many were under construction at the end of the year; and what were the comparable figures for 1967.

Mr. Ross

Forty-one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine houses were completed in 1968, compared with 41,458 in 1967. The number of houses under construction at the end of the year was 55,557, compared with 53,086 at the end of 1967.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the numbers of houses to be started in Scotland in 1969; and what was the total of starts in 1967 and 1968, respectively.

Mr. Ross

In 1968, 44,460 houses were started, compared with 43,994 in 1967. The number started in 1969 should again be well over 40,000.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to encourage the private sector in house building in Scotland.

Mr. Ross

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith).

Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue a circular advising local authorities in rural areas to build houses in small numbers in relatively isolated areas where there is a demand for them, by means of prefabrication techniques.

Mr. Ross

I can see no need for this circular. The authorities should be the best judges of the demands in their areas, and I have already advised them to use industrialised building where appropriate.