HC Deb 17 December 1980 vol 996 c187W
37. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures available for the annual number of local authority housing starts and house improvements; and how this compares with the corresponding figures one year and two years ago.

Mr. Stanley

For the period from October 1979 to September 1980, provisional returns indicate that there were 33,700 housing starts and 83,500 house improvements by English local authorities. Comparable figures for the equivalent period in 1978 were 48,000 and 66,200; and for 1977 the figures were 73,300 and 60,200 respectively.