§ 39. Sir Fergus MontgomeryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest set of quarterly orders for new construction figures; and if he will comment on them.
§ Mr. TrippierThe latest figures of construction orders for new work in Great Britain by private contractors are given in the table.
1988 first quarter pro visional figures £ million 1980 prices seasonally adjusted Percentage change from first quarter 1987 per cent. Public housing 154 -16 Private housing 1,060 +8 Public other new work 1,130 +9 Private industrial 663 +3 Private commercial 1,905 +62 All new work 4,911 +22 These impressive results are largely due to orders placed by private sector clients. Private commercial orders were at a new record level in the first quarter of 1988, and private housing orders were at the highest level for 15 years.
The continuing high level of new orders placed in recent months supports the generally held view that this will be another good year for the construction industry with further growth in output expected.