HC Deb 19 July 1973 vol 860 cc217-8W
Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority house building schemes have not been proceeded with, reduced in numbers, and modified in standards in the Northern Region because costs of building are higher than 10 per cent. above the Government's unit cost yardstick.

Mr. Eyre

My Department's Northern Region office is aware of six local authority house building schemes in the region which have not been proceeded with because of the size of the gap between lowest tender price and a reasonable yardstick. No schemes have been reduced in numbers, nor have any been approved at less than normal Parker Morris standards.

Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many house building schemes, and how many individual houses, have not been started by the Hartlepool County Borough because the tenders submitted considerably exceed the Government's unit cost yardstick; and what steps have been taken to assist the county borough to proceed with its housing programme.

Mr. Eyre

My Department's Northern Regional office is aware of one scheme for 45 dwellings—Oxford Street, phase 1—which has not been started by the Hartlepool county borough because of the wide gap between lowest tender price and a reasonable housing cost yardstick. My regional officials are in touch with the local authority about this and other schemes and are doing all they can to help to maintain the building programme.

Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made by the Hartlepool Borough Council and the hon. Member for the Hartlepools in respect of the high cost of house building and the inadequacy of the Government's unit cost yardstick; and what replies he has given

Mr. Eyre

A deputation from Hartlepool County Borough Council accompanied by the hon. Member for the Hartlepools met the Department's North- ern Regional Controller (Housing and Planning) on 26th February 1973 to discuss the proposed scheme for 45 dwellings at Oxford Street. The hon. Member raised the question of the housing cost yardstick in the Adjournment debate on 12th March 1973 and he accompanied a deputation from Hartlepool Council which I met on 27th March 1973.

I explained that the housing cost yardstick was now more flexible since special allowances could be given for individual schemes where local market conditions made this necessary, but that some cases would arise where tenders were higher than could be justified by market conditions alone. Since then, fresh tenders for the Oxford Street scheme have been invited.