HC Deb 27 February 1967 vol 742 cc33-5W
Mr. Hamling

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the number of council houses under construction in Greater London at 1st January in each year since 1960, including 1967.

Mr. Mellish

The figures requested are given in the table below:—

Dwellings under construction for local authorities in Greater London At 1st January
1960 24,587
1961 24,640
1962 23,850
1963 25,939
1964 30,442
1965 38,302
1966 42,755
1967 41,122*
* Revised basis: the figures on the previous basis was 45,745.

The figure of the number of dwellings under construction for the Greater London Council has been revised following a change in the definition of "dwellings started" in the statistical return made by the Council. Until the end of 1966 the Greater London Council provided information on the same basis as previously provided by the London County Council, defining a start as being the date when instructions were given to the contractor to proceed rather than when work on the laying of foundations (or slabbing) began. Thus starts were recorded earlier than they should have been.

Figures on the standard basis are not available for past periods. It is not thought that the difference in definition greatly affected the number of starts reported year by year. The figures on completions are not affected by the change.

Mr. Hamling

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the number of council houses completed in Greater London for each year since 1960, including 1966.

Mr. Mellish

The figures requested are given in the table below:—

Dwellings completed for local authorities Greater London*
Year Completed During Year
1960 14,095
1961 13,177
1962 13,895
1963 14,314
1964 14,475
1965 17,782
1966 19,859
* Greater London Council Area.