HC Deb 20 February 1970 vol 796 cc211-2W
Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will set out taking 1963 figures as 100 and at constant prices, the building costs for the United Kingdom and the Common Market countries, from information available to him from international sources.

Mr. Loughlin

The following figures are extracted from the 1967 and 1968 editions of the Annual Bulletin of Housing and Building Statistics for Europe, published by the United Nations:

COST INDICES FOR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION 1963=100
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
Belgium 109 115 119 124 127
France 107 113 116 118 (a)
Italy (b) 128 131 (a) (a) (a)
Netherlands 109 114 120 120 128
United Kingdom (c) 102 106 111 113 118
Western Germany (d) 105 109 113 110 115

Notes:

(a) Not yet available.

(b) Input price index. Does not allow for changes in profits and productivity.

(c) Excludes Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom index covers all new building work.

(d) Beginning 1968, includes Value Added Tax.

Indices are not yet available for 1969. No figures are available for Luxembourg.