Oral Answers to Questions — Housing – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 7 Chwefror 1967.
Mr Anthony Grant
, Harrow Central
12:00,
7 Chwefror 1967
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in which year he anticipates that the total of houses completed in the private sector will rise to the level achieved in 1964.
Mr Anthony Greenwood
, Rossendale
I am discussing with the builders and the building societies what needs to be done to stimulate private housebuilding in addition to the steps announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the exchequer yesterday and it would not be useful to make a forecast at the present time.
Mr Anthony Grant
, Harrow Central
Yes, in view of the fact that some 51,000 families who would otherwise have enjoyed new homes have been let down in the last two years by the Labour Government, if the Minister will not give a pledge, can he give at least a light promise?
Mr Anthony Greenwood
, Rossendale
Building Societies advanced a record amount last year and they expect to increase it this year, and the proposals made yesterday about building finance and bridging finance will give great help to the private sector.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
