HC Deb 08 December 1971 vol 827 c307W
34. Mr. Jay

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make available to hon. Members the reports by consultants commissioned by his Department on the future treatment and cost of proposals for urban motorways.

Mr. Graham Page

These research studies were undertaken for the committee set up by the Minister of Transport in 1969 to advise on various problems of fitting major roads into urban areas. My right hon. Friend expects to receive the committee's report next year. It is not proposed to publish parts of the committee's material in advance of that.

PUBLIC SECTOR: HOUSEBUILDING
Area January-September, 1970 January-September, 1971
Starts Completions Starts Completions
Northern 7,680 8,873 6,671 8,676
Yorkshire and Humberside 9,016 10,417 7,611 7,708
North-West 15,461 17,116 13,222 14,608
East Midlands 5,241 6,598 6,133 5,392
West Midlands 9,946 12,689 8,147 10,528
East Anglia 3,869 2,933 3,068 3,270
South Eastern (excluding Greater London Area) 17,513 17,233 14,003 16,486
Greater London Area 17,331 19,954 18,677 18,299
South-West 6,394 4,931 5,411 5,933
Total England 92,451 100,744 82,943 90,900
Wales 3,530 5,231 4,090 4,606
Scotland 21,916 25,659 17,101 20,804
Great Britain 117,897 131,634 104,134 116,310

Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take further steps designed to bring about an increase in the rate of house building in the public sector.

Mr. Amery

The proposals in the Housing Finance Bill will ensure that local authorities will now have the resources to deal with the housing problems in their areas particularly slum clearance.