asked the Minister for the Environment the number of applications for the £1,000 grants for the first three months of 1978 and the corresponding figure for the first three months of 1979.

The numbers of such applications received in my Department in the first three months of 1978 and 1979 were 3,406 and 2,022 respectively.

Would the Minister agree that that is a drop in the number of applications which would indicate that there is a fall-off in the number of houses being built?

There is a drop in the figure but the reason is that people cannot post their applications.

That is a good excuse but it is not the case.

That is the reason.