HC Deb 20 December 1974 vol 883 cc649-51W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest housing figures, both public and private; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeson

Up to the end of October 1974 the number of houses completed in the public sector in Great Britain was up by 19 per cent., houses started by 33 per cent., and houses put into contract by 31 per cent., compared with the same period of 1973. Comparable figures for the private sector show falls of 25 per cent. in completions and 52 per cent. in starts. The overall position remains highly un-

satisfactory and I have further initiatives under urgent consideration.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of new housing starts in Great Britain by local authorities, new towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeson

The Public Expenditure Survey White Paper, Cmd. 5519, published by the Conservative administration in December 1973, envisaged 95,000 new housing approvals in 1974 by local authorities, new towns and the Scottish Special Housing Association. I am confident that the increase to a figure of 130,000 this year, which I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 31st July, will be achieved. Indeed, I now hope that it will be exceeded. The measures we have taken to increase housebuilding in the public sector have started to produce results; but we have a long way to go before we can be satisfied. I hope that local authorities and other public bodies will redouble their efforts to speed the provision of the homes so desperately needed in many parts of the country. The Government will give whatever help they can to this end.

Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in his short-term and long-term plans for the expansion of housebuilding in both the public and private sectors.

Mr. Freeson

Considerable progress has already been made towards the expansion of housebuilding in the public sector. The position in the private sector remains very unsatisfactory. I am considering urgently what further initiatives might be taken.