HC Deb 14 November 1979 vol 973 cc649-50W
17. Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties were privately let in each year since 1974.

Mr. Stanley

The only recent years for which there is firm information on the number of dwellings in the private rented sector in England are 1971 and 1977: in 1971 there were just over 3 million dwellings in the sector and by 1977 the figure had fallen to 2.2 million.