§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what he estimates will be the total need of new homes for sale in the next five years; and if this need will be mainly for houses now sold at under £6,000, £6,000 to £8,000, or over £8,000;
(2) if he will give the price range, at current prices, of the type of house most 36W likely to be needed for sale in the next five years.
§ Mr. EyreThere is a deep and widespread desire for home ownership, which can be met only by an increase in the supply of houses for sale. The Government's policy is to encourage the expansion of owner-occupation, and they have, therefore, helped create conditions in which the private sector housing programme has risen from 165,000 starts in 1970 to 227,000 starts in 1972. There is every prospect of a strong continuing demand for owner-occupation, which will call for a high level of house building of all types, and in all price ranges, in the next five years.