§ 34. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in the light of the 53,168 fall in the number of new houses and flats started in 1968 compared with the previous year's total of 447,567, what estimate he has made of the number of dwellings likely to be completed this year and also the number started this year; and what steps he proposes to increase the number of starts.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI do not at present see reasons for expecting any dramatic change in the figures for 1969 as compared with 1968. Local authorities in the priority areas have been urged to maintain their building figures at a high level. Starts in the private sector depend largely upon the state of the economy and the availability of mortgage finance.