Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, (1) why the numbers of houses completed in the first quarter of 1969 in Scotland was almost one sixth fewer than the comparable figures in the first quarter of 1968; and how many houses he now estimates will be completed in 1969;
(2) why the number of houses started in the first quarter of 1969 in Scotland 142W was some 13 per cent. fewer than the comparable figure in the first quarter of 1968; and how many houses he now estimates will be started in 1969.
§ Mr. RossAt the end of 1968 there were 55,557 houses under construction and in the public sector tenders had been accepted for 20,317 on which construction had not started. The corresponding figures for 1967 were 53,086 and 20,564. Variations in starts and in completions are bound to occur from quarter to quarter and I would emphasise once again the undesirability of drawing sweeping conclusions from the figures for such short periods or of attempting to forecast precisely how many of the houses which have been approved will be started or completed by a particular date.