asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for every year since 1945 the number of units of housing available in the privately-rented sector throughout the United Kingdom.

Following are the available estimate:

DWELL INGS RENTED FROM PRIVATE OWNERS: UNITED KINGDOM: 1951 TO 1977
	thousands
1951	7,500
1961	5,060
1966	4,380
1970	3,770
1971	3,670
1972	3,540
1973	3,420
1974	3,300
1975	3,190
1976	3,090
1977	3,010

Estimates are based on information obtained from the 1947 household survey and the 1961, 1966 and 1971 Censuses and include certain assumptions regarding the tenure distribution of gains and losses in the housing stock for other years and are not based on direct evidence. Estimates including dwellings rented with farms, with business premises, by virtue of employment or owned by housing associations which were not separately identified in the 1971 Census.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of private rented accommodation in the London area in each of the years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, and to the latest convenient date in 1978.

Following are the available estimates:

DWELLINGS RENTED FROM PRIVATE OWNERS: GREATER LONDON AREA: 1973 TO 1977
	thousands
1973	680
1974	650
1975	620
1976	610
1977	590

Estimates are based on information obtained from the 1971 Census and include certain assumptions regarding the tenure distribution of gains and losses in the housing stock since then and are not based on direct evidence. Estimates include dwellings rented with farms, with business premises, by virtue of employment or owned by housing associations which were not separately identified in the Census.