Local Authority Housing

HC Deb 28 October 1981 vol 10 c390W

27. Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority housing starts there have been so far in the current year.

Sir George Young:

Local authorities in England started an estimated 13,360 dwellings in the first eight months of this year.

32. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the fact that in the London borough of Brent of 11,000 families on the waiting list for housing only 167 earned enough to be eligible for a mortgage, he will now change his previous policy of withholding funds for council housing schemes in the belief that the loss of council houses could be compensated for by an increase in home ownership.

Sir George Young:

I do not accept that description of Government policy. I believe that the figures quoted by the hon. Gentleman do not accurately reflect the scope we have created for extending low-cost home ownership. As regards Brent's housing investment programme allocation, I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman yesterday.