HC Deb 20 January 1995 vol 252 cc711-3W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many self-employed householders were owner-occupiers in the years 1979, 1985 and 1994.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The estimates available are:

Million 1Per cent.
1977–78 1.00 11
1985 1.33 12
1993–94 1.81 13
1As a proportion of all owner occupiers.

These figures are taken from the national dwelling and housing survey for the earliest estimate, the 1985 labour force survey and the 1993ߝ94 survey of English housing, and are subject to sampling error.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the state of the United Kingdom housing industry; and if he will indicate those steps he is taking which specifically promote home ownership.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

Total housing starts in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1994 were 10 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1993. Private housing starts were up 13 per cent. The number of starts in 1994 will be the highest since 1989 for both the private sector and in total. We are continuing to promote home ownership through a range of policies including the right to buy, cash incentive schemes open to local authority and housing association tenants, and shared ownership schemes.