§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he can give an estimate of the number of houses more than 40 years old with modern conveniences, and how this figure compares with the number in 1964.
§ Mr. John MorrisI regret that this information is not available in the form requested. The hon. Member may, however, care to refer to the results of the 1961 and 1971 censuses, which give the numbers of houses lacking amenities in each of those years.
§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of making an old house habitable by means of improvement grant; and how this compares with the cost of erecting a new house of comparable size, excluding the cost of building land.
§ Mr. John MorrisI regret that this information is not readily available.
§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average selling price of a newly built three-bedroom 396W house in urban areas in Wales; and how this compares with the selling price of a 50-year-old house of equivalent size which has been modernised by means of improvement grant.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe average selling price of a newly built three-bedroom semi-detached house in urban areas in Wales in 1972, the latest date for which figures are available, was £5,100. The other information requested is not available.
§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing units, including old houses made habitable through improvement grants, were added to the housing stock in Wales in each of the years from 1964 to 1973, inclusive.
§ Mr. John MorrisThis information is not available in the form requested. The following are the figures for housing completions, houses demolished or closed, and improvement grants approved in Wales for each of the years 1964 to 1973 inclusive:
year Housing Completions in Wales Houses Demolished or Closed in Wales Improvement Grants Approved in Wales 1964 18,969 2,753 7,665 1965 19,524 2,856 7,721 1966 19,360 2,417 7,142 1967 20,158 2,733 7,138 1968 19,182 2,397 7,022 1969 17,304 2,284 8,187 1970 15,473 2,329 10,420 1971 15,101 2,594 11,752 1972 14,770 1,978 27,851 1973 14,334 2,028 31,568
§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in his review of extending expiring dates for housing improvement grant, he will take into account the special needs of development areas.
§ Mr. John MorrisAll relevant factors will be taken into account.
§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses were (1) started, (2) under construction, and (3) completed in the public and private sectors in Wales each year since 1964, inclusive.
§ Mr. John MorrisFor 1973, the information requested is as follows: 397W
Public Sector Private Sector Total Housing Starts in Wales in 1973 2,992 12,662 15,654 Housing Completions in Wales in 1973 3,377 10,957 14,334 Houses under Construction at the end of 1973 in Wales 5,350 15,422 20,772 Corresponding figures for earlier years are given in Table 52 of the Digest of Welsh Statistics No. 19 (1972/3), a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now make 398W a statement on the proposed extension of the 75 per cent. house improvement grant's availability in Wales beyond 23rd June 1974.
§ Mr. John MorrisI expect to make an early announcement on this subject.