Housing Starts And Completions 18. Mr. Ovenden asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for housing starts and completions in the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Shore In the three months, February to April, there were 29,200 public sector starts and 38,100 completions; in the private sector there were 31,000 starts and 33,200 completions. The figures for the 12 months to April 1977 were 147,600 public sector starts, 158,100 public sector completions; 141,800 private sector starts, 146,500 private sector completions. 28. Mr. Edwin Wainwright asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new houses have been completed over the past six months at the latest available date; how many new houses were started during the same period; what were the comparable figures in each case during the similar period in 1975–76; and, in view of the high unemployment in the building industry, if he will now take necessary steps to increase the building programme. Mr. Armstrong In Great Britain during the six months period November 1976 to April 1977 there were 145,903 completions and 111,641 starts. For the comparable period in 1975–76 there were 158,987 completions and 163,590 starts. As my right hon. Friend indicated in the debate on 20th June—[Vol. 923, c. 921–4] we shall take whatever steps are needed----------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------- |Total | ----------------------------------------- |of which: | ----------------------------------------- |Public housing | ----------------------------------------- |Private housing | ----------------------------------------- |Public housing as a percentage of total| -----------------------------------------