HC Deb 06 March 1975 vol 887 cc511-2W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what factors he attributes the decline of 2 per cent. in new orders for public sector housing in the fourth quarter of 1974 compared with the third quarter.

Mr. Freeson

Public sector housing moved sharply upwards last year. Tender approvals were 39,000 higher than in 1973. The small decrease in contractors' orders from the third to the fourth quarter is probably due to chance variations a common feature of order statistics