Housing Bill (Allocation of Time)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:42 pm on 16 April 1980.

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Photo of Mr Roy Hattersley Mr Roy Hattersley , Birmingham Sparkbrook 4:42, 16 April 1980

I think that it will be exactly as the right hon. Gentleman said in an unguarded moment. Council house starts in those years will be for the old and for the very special categories—[HON. MEMBERS: "Ah".] With great respect, that is the figure which counts when we are calculating the loss through sales versus the additions through building. In 1981–82 and 1982–83, there will be virtually no building for general need, and in many areas there will literally be no building for general need. Let me explain, by accepting one of his statistically fraudulent assumptions, how is it possible to compare the outturn of one year with the allocation of another.

On the best evidence, it is assumed that the outturn for 1979–80 will be about £3·2 billion. The allocation for 1980–81—which is too large a figure for sensible comparison—is only £2·2 billion. Even according to the phoney criteria of the right hon. Gentleman, that is a net loss of £1 billion. It is no good the right hon. Gentleman asking me whether I am telling him that that means there will be no building in some areas in 1981–82. It means that there will be no new building in some areas this year. I have a long list—although the Secretary of State does not need my evidence, because he has a longer list—of authorities which have already announced that there will be no new housing starts in their areas this year.