asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in which areas where there is at present a severe shortage of houses he estimates that there will be a surplus in 1973, the year in which Her Majesty's Government estimate there will be an overspill surplus.

Severe shortages are mainly concentrated in London and other pressure areas. I have not suggested that these can be transformed into adequate surpluses by 1973, because of the condition and distribution of the housing stock there. I intend that, as the housing shortage eases in the country at large, extra resources can be deployed in those areas in which shortages persist and to accelerate slum clearance generally.

As the Government's house building programme is falling behind in both completions and starts, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to say where the surpluses will occur in 1973 and where the shortages will occur?

A great deal will, of course, depend on the progress that is made by local authorities in the various areas. In view of the record of some of the local authorities concerned, I am afraid that shortages may persist rather longer than one would have hoped.

Could not the resources that are required in pressure areas best be organised by the establishment of a public building corporation, which could enable the house building programmes of the local authorities concerned to be augmented?

My lion. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary dealt with that matter in answer to an earlier Question, although it is certainly a subject which we shall have to bear in mind.