§ 11. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been started during each of the last five years for which statistics are available.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe figures for Great Britain are:
1970 131,000 1971 115,000 1972 100,000 1973 87,000 1974 121,000
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures available for the number of local authority houses started and completed; what estimates are available for the starts and completions in the years 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArmstrongDuring the first eight months of 1975, about 85,900 houses were started, and 80,650 completed, by local authorities in Great Britain. These figures are over 2 per cent. and 23 per cent. higher than those for the equivalent periods in 1974 and show that the revival of house building in the public sector we achieved last year, is continuing. It is not the Department's practice to publish estimates of future house building performances, but I am confident that this year's figures, when they are available, will show a considerable improvement on 1974.