§ 19. Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the rate of house building in the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownI am encouraged by the revival of public sector house building in Scotland over the past year, with more houses approved, started, under construction and completed. Approvals for the year to the end of August are up from 13,416 in 1973–74 to 19,513 in 1974–75. I give below the corresponding figures for houses started, under construction and completed. There are signs also that the private sector is recovering. But much remains to be done in some areas and I shall encourage measures to meet housing needs where-ever they arise.
Following are the figures:—
September 1973—August 1974 September 1974—August 1975 Starts 19,546 20,143 Under construction 30,576 31,165 Completions 15,863 19,554