HC Deb 21 May 1996 vol 278 cc166-7W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people in the west midlands were employed in the construction industry in each year since 1990; and for each year what was the percentage change on the previous year. [30155]

Mr. Clappison

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: The information is as follows:

Construction employment in west midlands
Employees Employees and self-employed
Number Percentage change Number Percentage change
Spring 1990 101,100 — 174,100 —
Spring 1991 97,000 -4 158,000 -9
Spring 1992 88,300 -9 153,300 -3
Spring 1993 78,800 -11 139,800 -9
Spring 1994 72,100 -8 141,100 +1
Spring 1995 76,000 +5 145,000 +3

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) private and (b) social houses, have been built in the west midlands in each year since 1990; and for each year what was the percentage change on the previous year. [30157]

Mr. Clappison

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: The figures requested are as follows:

new lettings through cash incentive schemes. The relative importance of incentive schemes has been growing with the greater emphasis being placed on making more effective use of existing stock.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many construction industry companies in the west midlands closed in each year since 1990; and for each year what was the percentage change on the previous year. [30156]

Mr. Clappison

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: Information in the form requested is not available. The following is the available information:

VAT Deregistrations in the construction industry: West Midlands
Number deregistered Percentage change on previous year
1992 3,396 n/a
1993 3,051 -10
1994 2,275 -25

VAT deregistrations are not synonymous with business closures and estimates for 1993 and 1994 include adjustments for the effect of the VAT threshold increase in November 1993.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many social houses were built in the west midlands in 1979. [30158]

Mr. Clappison

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: Figures reported to the Department by local authorities show that there were some 2,000 housing association dwellings and 8,900 local authority and new town new dwellings completed in the West Midlands region during 1979.