§ 53. Mr. Bidwellasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many years housing construction has exceeded 350,000 completions since 1951.
§ Mr. FreesonThis figure of 350,000 has not been exceeded in any year between 1951 and 1963. In 1964 and in every succeeding year the figure was exceeded. It should do so again in 1969.
§ 54. Mr. Bidwellasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT 229W housing completions in each year since November, 1964, compared with completions in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. FreesonI will circulate the figures as requested. They range from 293,391 in 1963 to 416,366 in 1968.
GREAT BRITAIN HOUSING COMPLETIONS Number of dwellings Public Private Total November, 1959–October, 1960 … … … 129,981 166,659 296,640 November, 1960–October, 1961 … … … 119,095 178,003 297,098 November, 1961–October, 1962 … … … 127,348 173,650 300,998 Novemoer, 1962–October, 1963 … … … 121,610 171,781 293,391 November, 1963–October, 1964 … … … 151,587 210,731 362,318 November, 1964–October, 19651 … … … 66,404 219,609 386,013 November, 1965–October, 19661 … … … 76,654 205,398 382,052 November, 1966–October, 19672 … … … 01,756 196,701 398,457 November, 1967–October, 1968 … … … 193,320 223,046 416,366 November, 1968–September, 1969 … … … 168,644 174,249 342,893
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of housing starts and completions for the year to date; what percentage change these represent from the corresponding figures for 1968; and what is the expected level of house completions for 1969.
§ Mr. GreenwoodFollowing are the figures
January-September Percentage 1968 1969 Decreases (Thousands) Starts Public 150.6 139.0 7.7 Private 155.4 131.1 15.6 Total 306.0 270.2 11.7
Completions Public 137.1 130.7 4.6 Private 163.8 136.2 16.9 Total 300.9 266.9 11.3 In debate on 4th November I said that the current statistical projection was that in total about 365,000 dwellings would be completed this year. I would expect roughly half of this total to be provided by the public sector and half by the private sector.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new houses he estimates will now be completed in 1969 in the private and public sectors, respectively; and if, in 230W Completions have dropped currently, but I expect an increase over the 1969 and 1970 estimated figures in future and these will be added to by the number of completions of new dwellings from old properties under the Housing Act, 1969.
The required figures are:
view of the growing concern about the homeless following the recent report by Shelter, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will now restore the target of half a million houses a year by 1970 formerly adopted by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. GreenwoodIn debate on 4th November I said that the current statistical projection was that in total about 365,000 dwellings would be completed this year. I would expect roughly half of this total to be provided by the public sector and half by the private sector. It is because of my concern with the homeless and families who are badly housed that I am taking special steps to urge authorities for areas where these problems are largely concentrated to take full advantage of the priority which the Government are prepared to give to the solution of their problems.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses started so far this year compared with the corresponding period in 1968 and 1967; and what measures he proposes to take to reverse the decline.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI am conducting a review of priority housebuilding programmes, and my colleagues and I shall have discussions with a number of the larger authorities in the near future. In the private sector we have increased the total available for local authority lending 231W in 1970–71 by £ million, and we are improving the terms of the option mort-
GREAT BRITAIN HOUSING STARTS Number of dwellings Public Private Total January—September, 1967 … … … … 166,777 186,158 352,935 January—September, 1968 … … … … 150,572 155,437 306,009 January—September, 1969 … … … … 139,048 131,124 270,172