HC Deb 09 May 1973 vol 856 c104W
41. Mr. Willey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the progress made in increasing the supply of houses for sale and land for development, and on the effect in stabilising and reducing land prices.

Mr. Channon

In 1972 starts were made in the private sector on 227,000 dwellings as compared with 165,000 in 1970, and large amounts of land were released for future building. In the first nine months of the year planning permissions were granted in the South-East for nearly 60 per cent. more private dwellings than in the same period of 1970. I am confident that the measures we have already taken, together with those announced in the recent White Paper, will lead to a stabilising of land price trends.