§ 14. Mr. Mark Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many private house building starts have been made in Wales in the latest available year; and how this compares with the previous year.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsPrivate house building starts during 1983 in Wales are provisionally estimated at 6,235. That is an increase of some 14 per cent. over 1982 starts.
§ Mr. RobinsonI am sure that hon. Members on both sides of the House will welcome that significant increase. Does my hon. Friend agree that it shows a welcome input to the construction industry in Wales?
§ Mr. RobertsI agree with my hon. Friend. The figures are most encouraging, particularly because this is tie third year that there has been an increase. Private starts are now 40 per cent. higher than in 1981.
§ Mr. ColemanHow do those figures compare with 1979?
§ Mr. RobertsI should require notice of that question.
Mr. loan EvansWill the Under-Secretary help the House by publishing the figures under the Labour Government and this Government, since they were elected, for both private and public starts, so that we can make a true comparison?
§ Mr. RobertsThe figures are available, but I might help the hon. Gentleman by saying that in some years, certainly 1977 and 1978, public sector starts under the Labour Government were not as high as the number of private sector starts that I have just given.