§ 41. Mr. Horamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the average number of council houses completed in Great Britain per month for 1967, 1970 and last year, and also the latest monthly figure.
§ Mr. FreesonDwelling completions for local authorities and new towns averaged 16,000, 14,200 and 8,100 per month in 1967, 1970 and 1973 respectively. The figure for February 1974 was 7,900.
§ 42. Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his proposals for stepping up the rate of house building in both the private and public sectors.
§ Mr. FreesonI would refer the hon. Member to the relevant measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech on 26th March. Among the immediate steps I am taking are to seek an increase in local authority housebuilding programmes and the purchase of suitable unsold houses from developers where this will meet urgent housing needs.
§ 65. Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many 356W houses are expected to be built in the current year.
§ Mr. FreesonSteps have been taken to increase the public expenditure provision for housing substantially. A circular will shortly be sent to local authorities seeking an increase in their programmes of building for rent, the acquisition of suitable unsold houses from developers where these will meet urgent housing needs and, in areas of stress, a start on programmes for the social ownership of rented housing.