§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to reverse the fall in dwellings started in Great Britain between May 1989 and May 1990; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Spicer[holding answer 17 July 1990]: My right hon. Friend's responsibilities extend only to England. We have nearly doubled public expenditure provision for the Housing Corporation, and enabled housing associations to use private finance; this will make possible a near-doubling of their output over the next three years. Output of dwellings by private builders is determined by the market; there has been a temporary downturn in response to tight monetary policy, which is the only way to get on top of inflation.