To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing units were (a) built and (b) renovated in the year 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) local housing companies. [5065]

The latest available annual estimates of both house building and renovation activity by local authorities and housing associations in England are shown in the table below. Figures for housing association renovations for the March quarter of 1997 are not yet available.There are no local housing companies registered with the Housing Corporation and so there is no information yet on their building activity.