§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing starts were made in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector for each of the last 18 months; and if he will indicate the percentage difference from one month to the next.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergFollowing is the available information:
DWELLINGS* STARTED IN GREAT BRITAIN: MARCH 1979 TO AUGUST 1980 Public sector percentage change on previous month Private sector percentage change on previous month 1979 March 6,771 +48 9,189 +13 April 7,309 +8 11,291 +23 May 7,332 — 12,725 +13 June 9,898 +35 15,891 +25 July 8,140 −18 14,362 −10 August 7,045 −13 11,131 −22 September 6,625 −6 15,655 +41 October 6,092 −8 14,406 −8 November 6,372 +5 13,065 −9 December 6,073 −5 8,762 −33 1980 January 4,620 −21 8,566 −2 February 4,168 −10 7,270 −15 March 4,930 +18 7,272 — April 4,952 — 10,049 +38 May 6,149 +24 10,893 +8 June 5,884 −4 10,772 −1 Julya 5,123 −13 8,385 −22 Augusta 4,097 −20 7,308 −13 * Figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation. The month to month changes shown are therefore not necessarily a good indication to trends. † Provisional. —Change of less than 0.5 per cent.