§ 55. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state approximately how many councils have reduced their housing programmes since May, 1967, the reduction in number of council house starts between 1966–67 and 1969–70, the estimated starts for 1970–71 based on the first nine months, and the anticipated effect of cutting subsidies on future programmes.
§ Mr. AmeryOn the first two parts of the Question the hon. Member can make his own assessment from the detailed information published in Local Housing Statistics, England and Wales. Copies of these are available in the Library. As regards the third part of the Question, 102,000 public sector dwellings were started in England and Wales in the last nine months of 1970; but I cannot estimate the number for the first three months of this year. As regards the fourth part, under the reform of housing finance those authorities who most need to build will be better able to do so than at present.
§ 63. Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the effect of the Government's new housing policy, announced in New Policies for Public Spending, on the council house building programme of Waltham Forest Borough Council, as a result of his discussions with local authority associations.
§ Mr. ChannonThe effect on individual authorities of the reform of housing finance cannot be assessed until my right hon. Friend has concluded his discussions with the local authority associations.