§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to revitalise the construction industry to ensure an increase in the permanent dwellings started in 1994 in(a) council housing, (b) housing association and (c) the private sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe construction industry will continue to benefit from the range of Government policies which are leading to a sustained economic recovery. These have brought about substantial falls in interest rates leading to more affordable home ownership. The industry also
Total numbers of Black, Asian and female staff in the Government offices for the regions Region Total staff Female Percentage Black Percentage Asian Percentage NE 310.0 211 58 0 0 * less than 5 NW 460.4 194 42 9 2 * less than 5 Y and H 315.5 151 48 * less than 5 7 2 M 72.2 53 73 0 0 0 0 WM 364.9 191 52 29 8 7 2 EM 260.3 127 49 * less than 5 * less than 5 E 198.15 88 44 * less than 5 * less than 5 L 251.0 95 38 29 12 28 11 SE 295.2 149 50 7 2 7 2 SW 223.5 99 44 * less than 5 * less than 5 Total 2,751.2 1,358 49 74 approx. 24 49 approx. 18 General notes:
All figures calculated on a headcount basis.
Figures exclude casual and industrial staff.
Black and Asian staff figures include only those who responded to a voluntary survey and do not include other ethnic minorities.
DOE, ED and DOT figures for Asian and Black staff are as at 1 October 1993.
DTI figures for Black and Asian staff are as at January 1994.
All figures for female staff are as at April 1994.
Total staff figures are based on those of 1 October 1993.
Following the code of practice on ethnic origin of individuals, where the totals are 5 or less, actual figures have been replaced by an asterisk.
DTI notes:
Figures for London region are included in those for the South East region.
Merseyside figures are included in those for the North West.
434Wbenefits from our approach of bringing in private sector resources to increase the output from our social housing programmes.
My Department's public expenditure plans for housing are contained in its 1994 annual report—Cm 2507.