HC Deb 02 November 1988 vol 139 c677W
25. Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of private house starts at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Trippier

It is provisionally estimated that in the first eight months of 1988 there were 131,000 private sector housebuilding starts in England, 16 per cent. more than in 1987; starts this year have been running at their highest levels since 1973.