The All-Union Town Planning Conference h ldrecentlyunder the auspices of the Central Committee of the CPSU ushered in a new phase in the planning, building and improvement of Soviet towns. This new phase is characterized by a series of important features. The task set by the Party of eliminating the housing shortage in the Soviet Union in the next few years means that available housing in the towns and urban settlements is to be increased through new building by 60% in the current seven-year period alone. Every other urban family is to get a new apartment. This is feasible now because the Soviet Union has moved securely into first place in its rates of housing development.