HC Deb 13 February 1986 vol 91 cc512-3W
Mr. Stuart Holland

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of council house building in (1) England and Wales and (2) Scotland was represented by (a) direct labour departments of councils and (b) private construction companies, for each of the years 1979 to 1984.

Sir George Young

The estimated percentages based on the returns to the Department which give the value of new public sector house building put in place in each year are as follows:

(Percentages)
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
England and Wales
Private contractors . . . . 93 94 94 96
Direct labour departments . . . . 7 6 6 4
Scotland
Private contractors . . . . 99 98 99 98
Direct labour departments . . . . 1 2 1 2
Great Britain
Private contractors 94 94 94 94 95 96
Direct labour departments 6 6 6 6 5 4

Separate figures are not available for the individual countries in 1979 and 1980.