HC Deb 27 November 1975 vol 901 cc265-6W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average number of man-hours required per square foot for the construction of a two-storey house of between 800 and 950 square feet in (a) the private and (b) the public housing sectors, respectively; and to what extent the cost difference is accounted for by the difference between NHBC standards in the private sector and Parker Morris standards in the public sector.

Mr. Armstrong

The only information the Department has is a Building Research Station survey of progress in house building—CP25/69—which draws some comparisons between man-hours in the construction of dwellings in the public and private sectors. I will send the hon. Member a copy. However, this information is not up to date and does not make any comparison between NHBC and Parker Morris standards.

Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest home building figures, and how they relate to those for a comparable period in 1973 and 1974.

Mr. Freeson

Completions in Great Britain in August to October this year, including provisional estimates for October published today, were up 13 per cent. and 21 per cent. on the same period of 1973 and of 1974, respectively. For the public sector, the corresponding increases were 69 and 30 per cent.