§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of new housing starts that are required each year to maintain the housing stock at current levels of size and quality.
§ Sir George YoungAt 1984 rates of removal of dwellings from the housing stock, about 22,000 new houses would be required to maintain the stock in England at the same size as at the end of 1984 (18,574,000). Maintaining the quality of the stock depends far more on upkeep and renovation than on new building, hence there can be no unique number of houses to be demolished and replaced to maintain the quality of the housing stock at its present level.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the percentage of the new housing starts required each year to maintain existing levels which are currently made.
§ Sir George YoungI do not understand my hon. Friend's question.