§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sources his Deparment uses to assess housing demand for different sizes of accommodation and tenures.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Department does not carry out surveys of the demand for specific sizes of accommodation which must be for the judgment of housebuilders in the private sector and for local authorities and housing associations in the public sector. However, the general household survey has shown a steady reduction in household size which is now being reflected in the housebuilding specifications of both private builders and local authorities. On tenures, the general household survey of 1978 inquired about tenure preferences nationally. The Department also receives an annual HIP return and housing strategy statement from each local authority.