R. A. B.
-3-
Page 219
;
237
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
-Page 220 of 253-
SECRET
C. (52) 241
CABINET OFFICE
RECORD COPY
15TH JULY, 1952
-Page 220 of 253--
COPY NO.
68
CABINET
HOUSING
G
1953
Memorandum by the Minister of Housing
and Local Government
On 28th December, 1951, the Cabinet instructed me (C. C. (51) 20th Conclusions, Minute 3(2)) to prepare a building plan which would result in the completion of houses at the following rates 1952 - 230,000, 1953 260,000, 1954 - 300,000. I was also authorised to improve upon these figures if it were possible having regard to the resources available.
2.
By that decision we moved for the first time since 1947 from a fixed to an expanding programme. For a fixed programme all that was necessary was to allocate the right number of houses to each Local Authority and to see that they were built. When performance did not accord with planning, an excess was as much a sin as a deficiency.
3.
My mandate was to expand and to expand as rapidly as physical resources allowed. For six months I have been planning to build and trying to start in each locality as many houses as could be built with available resources. I have been urging Local Authorities and builders to act accordingly.
4.
We have now in our programme
243,000 houses under construction
82,000 houses in contracts but not yet started 161,000 in unused instalments to Local Authorities
486,000
5.
Of these 120,000 should be finished this year. Even if I offered no further instalments during the next six months and such action would be clear evidence of a restriction in the programme - there would still be at the beginning of next year some 366,000 houses in our announced programme.
6.
The expansion of our programme in 1953 can be prevented only by one of two things
(1) By stopping or slowing down further acceptance of tenders and further
licences.
(2) By failing to provide the actual materials.
The first would have to be announced, with all its political and
industrial consequences.