§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what factors he attributes the fact that public sector housing starts declined in the period March to May 1975 by 15 per cent. compared with the previous three months and 7 per cent. by the period March to May 1974.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI think the figures quoted by the hon. Member should now492W be 13 per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively. The mild weather in January and February this year led to a number of starts being brought forward, thus increasing the figures for those months and depressing the figures for the period March to May. A more realistic comparison is of figures for the period January to May of 1975 and 1974; on that basis starts are 7 per cent. up this year. The general position in the public sector is healthy following the upturn achieved last year. The best indicator of this is in tender approvals, where we have an increase of 19 per cent. in the first five months of this year over last.