§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are the results of his Department's assessment of past and current trends and future prospects for housing, as mentioned at (HA) El of "Ministerial information system part 4A";
(2) what are the results of the reassessment of housing stock and use and of global trends in housing, as mentioned at (HA) El of "Ministerial information system part 4A".
§ Mr. HeseltineThe hon. Member mistakes the nature of the document he is reading.
He is referring to a small piece of work by an individual official and which forms part of the total advice offered to Ministers by officials. Such advice, by long- established practice, is not disclosed publicly.
Furthermore, advice from an official does not constitute a departmental view, which must remain the responsibility of Ministers. If the hon. Member wishes for information on a specific matter I will do my best to provide it, although he will know that forecasting in this field is speculative.