§ Dr. Marshallasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage change over the last 12 months in the average price of private houses, both nationally and in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region; and if he will make a statement on the present position.
§ Mr. EyreThe average price of houses in the United Kingdom mortgaged with building societies increased by 13 per cent. in 1971 compared to 1970. The corresponding figure for the three northern Regions—Northern, North Western, and Yorkshire and Humberside—was 9 per cent. A more detailed breakdown is not available.
74Wgramme in England during the six months ended 31st March, 1972:
There may well have been much sharper rises in some areas. The best hope for an easier market lies in increasing the suppy of houses for sale. Sharp price increases are due mainly to strong demand coupled with relatively short supply, following a period of reduced activity in private housebuilding from 1968 to mid-1970. The Government's policies have been aimed at correcting this and are already showing results. In 1971 completions in the private sector were nearly 13 per cent. up on 1970; starts exceeded 200,000 for the first time since 1968 and were 26 per cent. up on 1970. The indications so far this year are that the trend is continuing.
75W
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate approximately the number of households in the United Kingdom lacking a bath or hot water or inside W.C., the number of people living in such homes, and the number of such homes which will be improved or demolished within 12 months and by 1980.
§ Mr. EyreInformation is available only for Great Britain. At the time of the 1966 sample census, 4.6 million households containing 11.9 million people did not have exclusive use of all three of these amenities although many would have shared them. Comparable figures from the 1971 census should be available before the end of the year. The rate of improvement and demolition will depend on the response by owners and local authorities to the generous improvement grants now available and to the new subsidy for slum clearance.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT The number of starts and completions, respectively, relating to housing in the public sector for each month from 1964 to the present time.
§ Mr. EyreThe numbers of public sector dwellings started and completed in Great Britain in each month from 1964 to 1971 and in the first two months of 1972 are as follows:
Started Completed 1964 January … … 17,985 10,545 February … … 12,939 11,682 March … … 14,569 13,545 April … … 16,059 10,758 May … … 16,087 13,413 June … … 15,560 13,588 July … … 14,062 12,250 August … … 11,248 11,122 September … … 14,887 13,073 October … … 16,558 13,845 November … … 15,067 14,299 December … … 13,601 17,462 76W
1965 January … … 10,520 11,443 February … … 14,781 12,368 March … … 15,195 16,295 April … … 17,814 12,999 May … … 17,199 13,750 June … … 17,413 13,229 July … … 13,271 14,131 August … … 14,140 12,204 September … … 15,185 12,842 October … … 16,512 15,382 November … … 13,766 14,993 December … … 15,643 18,862
Started Completed 1966 January … … 11,042 12,350 February … … 10,679 10,978 March … … 17,002 16,619 April … … 15,313 13,162 May … … 15,440 14,792 June … … 17,483 15,623 July … … 17,122 15,343 August … … 16,381 13,090 September … … 18,109 15,781 October … … 15,997 15,061 November … … 16,104 16,930 December … … 15,232 20,408
1967 January … … 12,261 13,630 February … … 16,386 14,569 March … … 18,853 18,255 April … … 20,363 15,575 May … … 19,127 16,983 June … … 23,573 17,666 July … … 19,180 16,631 August … … 18,782 15,967 September … … 18,252 17,171 October … … 15,648 17,971 November … … 17,699 16,962 December … … 13,795 22,538
1968 January … … 10,072 11,657 February … … 13,615 13,492 March … … 16,328 19,826 April … … 18,046 12,760 May … … 20,669 18,313 June … … 21,687 15,556 July … … 14,253 16,019 August … … 18,392 14,597 September … … 17,510 14,882 October … … 14,605 16,718 November … … 14,109 17,376 December … … 15,063 20,526
1969 January … … 11,969 14,106 February … … 10,603 11,033 March … … 12,943 15,745 April … … 19,368 13,378 May … … 16,318 15,321 June … … 18,641 15,055 July … … 16,999 16,457 August … … 15,525 13,905 September … … 16,680 15,742 October … … 14,593 17,067 November … … 11,552 15,867 December … … 11,442 21,414 77W
1970 January … … 9,155 11,748 February … … 8,743 13,055 March … … 11,080 18,018 April … … 14,610 13,007 May … … 17,212 15,866 June … … 15,518 15,496 July … … 15,064 17,193 August … … 11,799 13,677 September … … 14,676 13,584 October … … 13,850 15,946 November … … 12,030 14,762 December … … 10,300 17,787
Started Completed 1971 January … … 7,854 12,866 February … … 10,557 11,167 March … … 11,457 17,570 April … … 14,584 12,550 May … … 13,253 13,110 June … … 11,338 12,421 July … … 12,318 13,802 August … … 11,108 10,819 September … … 11,665 12,005 October … … 12,046 13,763 November … … 9,475 12,101 December … … 10,945 16,734
1972 January … … 9,094 10,374 February … … 8,668 9,935
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has studied the recent letter sent to him from the London Council of Social Service on housing questions; what conclusions he has reached on the proposals contained therein; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AmeryI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Ham, North, on 12th April—[Vol. 834, c.180–2.]
§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were completed by the Carlisle City Council for the period from 1st April, 1971, to 31st March, 1972, and what was the average weekly rents of these dwellings.