To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the drinking water inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

Housebuilding Starts and Completions
(Thousands)
	Starts			Completions
	1988	1989	Per cent. change	1988	1989	Per cent. change
North	10.3	9.8	-4	8.6	9.7	+13
Yorkshire and Humberside	17.9	15.9	-11	16.9	14.4	-15
East Midlands	21.7	16.8	-23	19.9	15.9	-20
East Anglia	16.5	11.4	-31	13.2	13.7	+3
South East:
London	15.4	13.7	-11	12.5	12.9	+4
Rest of South East	63.7	41.9	-34	55.5	47.9	-14
South West	30.2	19.2	-36	23.7	21.0	-11
West Midlands	19.1	15.6	-19	17.6	14.2	-19
North West	18.7	18.0	-4	18.5	16.3	-12
England	213.4	162.3	-24	186.3	166.0	-11

In 1988 private enterprise housebuilding was at its highest since 1973. Because of the need to raise interest rates to keep down inflation the fall during 1989 and early 1990 is not surprising. Interest rates will remain at current levels as long as is necessary to defeat inflation.